The VNA of Care New England has launched a new graduate nursing residency program designed for newly licensed nurses, and is currently accepting applicants who will comprise its inaugural class this fall.

In addition to the residency, the VNA announced that Lisa DiMaria, PhD, will oversee the program and help six newly licensed nurses learn all aspects of community health nursing. Dr. DiMaria comes to the VNA after years of clinical and academic program development and program evaluation experience. 

According to a release, as the health care environment continually changes and becomes more complex, residency programs provide additional support for new nurses to successfully transition to practicing independently. This specialty residency program takes the newly licensed nurses from novice to advanced beginner in home health, in about one year’s time. The program will begin in September and will be offered annually. In addition to preparing the next generation of nurses, the New Graduate Residency Program also will help provide critical clinical support for the VNA. 

The opportunities offered through the program will help to fill vital visiting nurse jobs, which are in high demand.

Qualified candidates are graduates, preferably from a bachelor’s program, who live locally, are willing to work full-time, and have passed the RN NCLEX exam. Eligible candidates must submit an online application to the position titled RN (New Graduates) at www.carenewengland.org/jobs. Please send a separate email to the director of workforce development and planning, Jody Jencks at jajencks@carene.org, with the following documentation: letter of intent; résumé with clinical information; one recommendation letter from a clinical instructor; educational transcripts (unofficial); nursing license, if available (required before starting program) and essay of 500 words or less: Why would you be a good community health nurse?