Nurturing Nurses
At ThedaCare, our lifeinspired vision calls us to create a healthier future for all. We welcome new nurses as an essential partner in enhancing the health and well-being of the patients we serve and our communities. Our mission — empowering each person to live their unique, best life — guides us in all we do.
We honor the pivotal role nurses play in caring for our patients. We’re committed to supporting our nurses in their continuous growth and development. Two examples of this are our Nurse Extern and Nurse Residency programs. These programs teach vital skills and help nurses recognize how their strengths can positively impact patient outcomes and community health.
Nurse Extern Program
The Nurse Extern program is a paid learning experience that lasts between six and eight weeks, totaling approximately 250 hours. The program runs twice a year, once during the summer and once during the winter. Participants will gain hands-on, skills-based training through working one-on-one with an experienced registered nurse.
Nurse externs will immerse themselves in patient care. They’ll have opportunities to provide care across the patient continuum, offering enhanced, holistic learning while aligning with the mission of ThedaCare.
- Provide the Nurse Extern with an RN role model to support and enhance professional nursing practice.
- Deliver hands-on experiences that develop clinical and organizational skills, fostering confidence and competence in administering basic nursing care.
- Offer opportunities to apply the nursing process and meet patients’ holistic needs in the ambulatory, acute and post-acute care settings.
- Strengthen interprofessional team work and integration.
- Aid in the recruitment of high-quality nursing graduates.
Paid education days are included in the program, with topics on:
- NCLEX exam preparation
- Hearing from a panel of nurses in all care settings
- Hands-on nursing skills
- Highlighting speakers from ThedaStar and the Level II Trauma Center at ThedaCare Regional Medical Center-Neenah
Candidates must be enrolled in and actively attending an accredited nursing program, specifically in their final year.
- How do I apply?
- Nurse Extern applications are posted directly to the ThedaCare Careers website. Summer Nurse Extern applicants can expect to apply in December and January. Winter Nurse Extern applicants can expect to apply in August and September.
- When during my education should I apply?
- You may apply for a position if you are within one year of graduating as a registered nurse. Due to limited availability, applicants graduating the semester before graduation may be selected to interview first.
- How do I apply?
Nurse Residency Program
The Nurse Residency program is designed to facilitate and support the transition of newly licensed registered nurses in their first year of practice. All new graduate nurses will take part in nurse residency.
Our ThedaCare values serve as a foundation for this process. Compassion ensures that mentors approach their roles with empathy. Leadership encourages every novice nurse to voice their ideas and advocate for change. Excellence establishes clear, evidence-based standards for safe practice. Innovation supports advanced learning through simulation labs and technology. Agility allows educators to customize support as nurses’ confidence grows. These commitments create a supportive environment that helps new nurses in their transition from classroom learners to confident clinicians.
- Provide programmatic support and guidance to help ease the transition from academia to professional practice.
- Enhance critical thinking and decision-making skills essential for thriving in complex health care environments.
- Encourage teamwork and collaboration among health care professionals to elevate patient outcomes and cultivate a cohesive work environment.
- Promote foundational, evidence-based practice and values among nurses, fostering the ability to employ research and best practices effectively.
- Develop skilled, attentive nurses dedicated to ensuring patient safety while delivering exceptional care.
The sessions take a holistic approach to ensure that each team member develops a well-rounded foundation for transitioning to practice as a registered nurse. The first nurse residency session is specifically designed to introduce the various programs and resources available to team members to enhance their self-care and well-being.
Nurse residency runs for six months. Participants attend one four-hour, in-person session each month. The program is incorporated into the team member’s schedule.
Focuses include:
- Charting and documentation
- Conflict/resolution
- Effective communication
- Interprofessional, patient-centered care
- Patient experience
- Patient safety and risk reduction
- Professional development and resources
- Self-care, fostering mindsets and wellness
- Time management and prioritization
