Professional Development and Education
The Clinical Advancement Ladder encourages individual professional development
to advance nursing as a whole. It “supports a lifelong learning
culture that includes professional collaboration and the promotion of
role development, and academic achievement (ANCC, 2013).”
The Clinical Advancement Ladder is a how-to-guide for clinical nurses to
equally develop their professional competence. It helps nurses carry out
the mission, vision, and goals of Bozeman Health.
-The Commission on Magnet Recognition, (2013). 2014 Magnet Application
Manual. Silver Spring, MD: American Nurses Credentialing Center.
Continuing Education:
Bozeman Health is an approved provider of continuing nursing education
by the Montana Nurses Association, an accredited approver of the American
Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. Having
this designation facilitates our ability to provide local access to quality
continuing education opportunities.
Certifications:
Our direct-care nurses are above the national average for holding professional
certifications, according to national database comparisons. Professional
Certification is heavily emphasized at this organization. Certification
differential pay, preparation-course offerings and organizational recognition
are a few ways we support and encourage high professional certification rates.
Nurse Residency Program:
Guided by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s
(RWJF) Report on the Future of Nursing, we’ve built a program to
help support nurses’ transition-to-practice. To help with a safe
and successful transition to independent practice, new graduate nurses
complete a year-long Nurse Residency Program in addition to their extensive
unit-specific orientation.
Meeting for two hours a month, the nurse residents are given the opportunity
as a core group to talk, share case scenarios and develop critical thinking
skills. Resident nurses also act as mentors for each other when they float
to a different floor. The year-long program is designed to assist newly
graduated nurses in acquiring the knowledge and skills to deliver safe,
quality care that meets defined standards of practice.
Here's what our nurses have to say
“It is so helpful to have a group of people who can relate to you,
share in your struggles, and understand the challenges the first year
as a nurse can bring. It creates a feeling of support, security, and relief.
It is also very helpful to have compassionate, non-judgmental mentors
who you can ask all of your questions that you may have. “ - Kelley T
“Collaboration between departments is vital to safe patient care
and building early relationships with other new nurses throughout our
organization has helped foster this. Having a new nurse residency program
is an excellent avenue to develop our new nurses and help them feel connected
with our organization so they can enjoy a lasting career with Bozeman
Health.” - Michelle K
"The nursing residency program proved to be very beneficial in helping
me navigate the ropes of being a new nurse here at Bozeman Health Deaconess
Hospital. I learned effective communication techniques and obtained tips
on time management that have served me well in my nursing career. I would
highly recommend this program for all new graduate nurses! " - Angela
McCormack, RN, BSN
Family Birth Center
"As a new nurse you see veteran nurses so effortlessly and effectively
providing care. Being able to see that we were on the right track and
address bumps in the road was quite beneficial in getting through what
could have been a much more difficult first year in the profession." - Kees
Contact the Nurse Residency program
Heather Tasker, MSN, RNC-OB
Nurse Educator
406.414.5018
htasker@bozemanhealth.org