Valley Regional Hospital, Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center launch joint nurse residency program

Mt. Ascutney Hospital and Health Center (MAHHC) and Valley Regional Hospital (VRH), both members of Dartmouth Health, have launched joint nurse residency programs to support newly graduated registered nurses as they transition into professional practice while strengthening the regional healthcare workforce.

The inaugural summer launch includes four cohorts: one emergency department (ED) residency hosted at VRH and three medical-surgical residencies hosted at MAHHC. Future cohorts will take place regularly in January/February and July/August each year.

Nurse residency programs (NRPs) provide newly licensed registered nurses with a structured transition from school into clinical practice through classroom education, mentorship, and hands-on patient care. Participants work alongside experienced nurses and nursing professional development specialists to build confidence, sharpen clinical skills, and prepare to deliver high-quality care in rural community hospitals.

NRPs drastically improve first-year nurse retention rates to between 90% and 98%, compared to an average retention rate of only 70% for facilities operating without a structured transition program. Up to one-third of new graduate nurses leave their employer within their first two years due to stress and lack of support, making NRPs a critical intervention for workforce stability and advanced clinical training.

“Making the transition from nursing school to the bedside is one of the biggest steps in a nurse’s career,” said Christopher J. Laird, DNP, MBA, FACHE, VRH’s chief nursing officer. “New graduates bring high energy and fresh clinical knowledge, but they need ongoing mentorship and hands-on support. This residency program ensures they don't have to make that transition alone, and our patients benefit from nurses who feel prepared, supported, and ready to lead.”

The ED residency at VRH is designed for both new graduates and experienced RNs transitioning into emergency nursing. Developed by the Emergency Nurses Association, the curriculum combines evidence-based education, simulation, progressive clinical immersion, and one-on-one mentorship. Michael J. Guest, MSN, RN, an ED registered nurse at VRH, leads the program, which currently includes two nurse residents from MAHHC.

At MAHHC, medical-surgical nurse residents complete an intensive three-week residency with the education team—integrating classroom learning, interactive sessions, skills, and simulations—followed by 12 or more weeks of guided clinical practice alongside dedicated preceptors and professional development specialists. Over the subsequent 10 months, residents reconvene for ongoing training involving topic reviews, simulations, and interactive learning exercises. Created by MAHHC's nurse residency program coordinator and a nursing professional development specialist Karen L. Cote, MSN, RN, MEDSURG- BC, NPD-BC, this summer's med-surg cohorts include 15 new nurses, 4 of whom are from VRH.

“Partnering across our two organizations allows us to combine clinical expertise, share best practices, and give new nurses a broader, richer training experience,” said Moriah J. Tidwell, MSN, RN, MAHHC’s chief nursing officer. “When hospitals work together, our employees and the entire community benefit.”