
Nurse Residency Program
Newly graduated registered nurses who join the St. Joseph’s/Candler team will participate in the Nurse Residency Program which helps student/novice nurses’ transition to professional/advanced beginner nurse.

The program includes residency workshops which include professional development topics like:
- Orientation to the residency
- Communication
- Critical thinking activities
- Introduction to other disciplines in the hospital
- Information about the business of healthcare
- Introduction to nursing quality measures, shared governance and risk management
- Skills practice in a Sim Lab
These workshops are presented on a virtual or live platform and culminate with a graduation after successful completion of the program which celebrates the accomplishments of the participants in our Nurse Residency Program.
The program has been recognized by the federal and state Departments of Labor as a Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Program (IRAP) and is accredited as a Practice Transition Program by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Our recognition by ANCC as an accredited practice transition program and the designation by the Department of Labor as an IRAP are evidence of the high quality of our residency program.
In fact, we are proud that 38% of our nurse residents are functioning in the charge nurse role at one-year post residency. The nurse residency program sets the foundation for growth and professional development within our organization.
For recruitment information, please contact Chad Peters, RN/Sr. Recruiter, petersch@sjchs.org or Darrin Brothers, RN/Sr. Recruiter, Brothersda@sjchs.org for recruitment. For residency information, please contact Janice Dennison, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, C-EFM, RN Residency Site Coordinator, dennisonj@sjchs.org and Alicia Motley, DNP, MBA, RN, NE-BC, Director of Professional Practice & Residency Program Director, motleya@sjchs.org.
Sites Accredited by ANCC
The current sites included in this accreditation designation are: St. Joseph’s Hospital and Candler Hospital.
The current workplace settings included in this accreditation designation are: Medical surgical, critical care, acute inpatient rehab units; emergency service departments in both hospitals; surgical services units including pre-screening, OR, Day surgery and PACU in both hospitals; and the Women’s and Children’s units in Candler Hospital only.