Rome Health was awarded the Claire Murray Best Practices Award at the NYONL Annual Meeting and Leadership Conference for its innovative strategies to prepare and support new nurses as they transition from the classroom to the bedside. The award recognizes continued achievements in transforming nursing and patient care.
More than 80 applicants submitted abstracts for consideration and Rome Health’s abstract was one of six selected for an award. The abstract was prepared by Chief Nursing Officer/VP Clinical Services Ashley Edwards, MSN, RN, NE-BC and Transitions to Practice and Extern Program Director McKayla Turnbull MSN, RN, who were invited to share their successes at the conference through podium and poster presentations.
“At Rome Health, we created the nurse extern program for senior student nurses to foster resiliency and clinical excellence,” Edwards said. “Physical and emotional burnout are lead contributors to newly licensed nurse turnover. Job stress, lack of support, inadequate training, work-life balance and low job satisfaction all contribute to burnout.”
“Retention rates double for new nurses that participate in the extern program,” Edwards said, citing retention rates of 80 to 100 percent since 2021 for externs. “At Rome Health, we are committed to setting people up for success and fostering ongoing professional development throughout their career.”
According to Turnbull, the extern program takes a multidisciplinary approach at the student nurse level, through improved support systems, early exposure to the healthcare setting, and a robust training program that promotes a foundation of resiliency.
Student nurse externs are hired to work as patient care techs throughout the health care organization with tuition reimbursement provided for those who commit to 0.8 FTE or greater. When the student nurse externs begin their senior year of nursing school, they receive an increase in pay and participate in monthly education sessions with the transitions to practice director. This includes communication, delegation and resiliency skills, didactic training and individualized support.
Rome Health provides continued development and support of newly licensed nurses as residents in its accredited transitions to practice program.
Student nurses interested in the extern program may contact Nurse Recruiter Michael Sturr 315.338-7134 or [email protected].
About Rome Health
Rome Health is a non-profit health care system based in Rome, N.Y., providing services to patients throughout Central New York. From primary and specialty care to long-term care, Rome Health delivers quality, compassionate medical care for every stage of life. We are a comprehensive health care system that connects you to the best clinicians and the latest technologies so they are easily accessible to you and your family. Rome Health is an affiliate of St. Joseph’s Health and an affiliated clinical site of New York Medical College.