The transition from nursing student to practicing clinician can be overwhelming. To ease this process, nurse residency programs provide a structured support system, helping new graduates bridge the gap between academic training and the realities of clinical practice. Through mentorship, professional development, and skill-building opportunities, these programs help ensure that new nurses can meet the challenges of their first year and are positioned for long-term success in their careers.

For more than 20 years, a powerful partnership between the VCU School of Nursing and VCU Health has been instrumental in shaping the careers of new graduates as they step into practice. That partnership’s most enduring expression is the VCU Health Nurse Residency Program, which provides critical support during the high-stakes first year of nursing practice. Born from close collaboration between the school and the health system, the program offers a clear, structured path from academic training to clinical practice, equipping new nurses with the tools, support, and confidence they need to thrive.

In the beginning

The origins of the Nurse Residency Program trace back to the MCV-VCU Nurse Intern Program, a yearlong transitional support model that ran from 1970 to 1993. While not all new graduates entered the workforce through this early initiative, those who did experienced firsthand the value of structured support and professional development.

One of them was Jacqueline Broyles (B.S. ’83), an alum and now the Nurse Residency Program’s longtime coordinator. After graduating from the VCU School of Nursing, she began her career in pediatric intensive care before discovering a passion for education and team development. Her experience as a nurse intern helped shape her understanding of the difference structured support can make—insight she deepened throughout the 1990s as a nursing professional development specialist working closely with new graduates. In 2001, she accepted a position as new graduate support coordinator—a role that eventually evolved into the Nurse Residency Program coordinator title she holds today.

“There have been many twists and turns, but it has been a privilege to co-coordinate the Nurse Residency Program for 21 years,” Broyles said. “Our commitment continues to be transitional support and clinical leadership development for all new graduate nurses.”

Launching a new era

In 2004, VCU Health launched the program in its current form. Devised in collaboration with the VCU School of Nursing, it was intended to be more than just an onboarding process for graduates transitioning into practice—it was a long-term investment in their growth, resilience and clinical excellence.

We plant seeds of empowerment and advocacy and watch them grow as former residents continue to provide excellent care and with a spirit of inquiry, continue to ask questions and drive practice changes.

Jacqueline Broyles

The program drew from national best practices and was among the early adopters participating in a research initiative led by the University HealthSystem Consortium. Importantly, the partnership also ensured that associate degree and diploma-prepared nurses received parallel support—an uncommon level of inclusivity for that time.

Since then, the Nurse Residency Program has continued to grow in scope and impact. It achieved initial accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education in 2014 and again in 2019, culminating in a 10-year accreditation in 2024.*

“We see the impact of the program on the organization culture with its emphasis on clinical inquiry, safety, quality, and collaboration as so many VCU Health nurses have completed the program,” Broyles said.” “We plant seeds of empowerment and advocacy and watch them grow as former residents continue to provide excellent care and with a spirit of inquiry, continue to ask questions and drive practice changes.”

The School of Nursing connection

What has set the VCU Health Nurse Residency Program apart from others of its kind is its deep, close connection to the School of Nursing. Faculty from the school have played an active role in developing and sustaining the program, serving as liaisons and academic partners in a model that now spans the full health system.

For Broyles, that connection is also personal.

“It was a full-circle moment for me when one of my favorite faculty members as a student, Dr. Anne Boyle, became our program partner as the first faculty liaison,” Broyles said. “It’s continued to be a privilege to collaborate with Dr. Tammy Williams as our current faculty liaison and many members of the School of Nursing faculty. The school’s influence is evident across the health system, and the Nurse Residency Program exists because of the strong collaborative partnership with the VCU School of Nursing.”

Anatomy of a nurse residency

The program begins in the first week of a new nurse’s employment with onboarding sessions that align with their unit-based orientation. Each year, nine onboarding cycles are grouped into four nurse residency cohorts. Monthly seminars—some in-person, some virtual—guide residents through themes like patient safety, care delivery, role development, and clinical inquiry.

What makes the program particularly unique is its focus on building relationships and creating a sense of belonging. Residents develop their technical skills while also learning about leadership, advocacy, and how to think about systems through hands-on projects that address real priorities within the organization.

"The Nurse Residency program really provided a safe outlet for me to bond with my peers and learn in a low-pressure environment about the resources available at VCU," said Peyton Jones (B.S. ‘17), assistant nurse manager in the Neuroscience ICU at VCU Health, who completed the program in 2019. "It helped me grow on a personal level as well as grow in my relationships with others on my unit and gave me more confidence in my bedside care as I was able to tackle issues and find solutions faster."

Katie Webb (B.S. ‘14), nurse clinician at the VCU Health MICU, also emphasizes the program’s role in easing the transition from academic learning to real-world practice. "The Nurse Residency program provided an excellent bridge from VCU School of Nursing to VCU Health," Webb said. "I was able to find support from my peers during the first year of nursing. Our resident facilitator was like a big sister to us, guiding and supporting us through that critical transition."
For many, the program is a launchpad for their careers, providing a foundation for both professional growth and personal resilience.

“The nurse residency provided a supportive environment and opportunities to increase my knowledge, skills, and abilities, fostering long-term career growth,” said Sara Townsend Wechsler (B.S. ‘04, M.S. ‘11), a nursing professional development specialist at VCU Health who completed the program in 2005. “I remember being overwhelmed, given the high stress and demands of my unit, but hearing Jacqui [Broyles] and my fellow nurse residents reflect on their own struggles gave me insight that I greatly appreciated.”

Growth, impact and looking ahead

The Nurse Residency Program has done more than support new nurses—it’s helped shape the leadership pipeline at VCU Health, with many former residents now serving in key roles across the system. The program has been instrumental in the career development of many graduates, providing them not only with technical expertise but also with leadership opportunities. 

"The Nurse Residency Program at VCU Health had a great impact on my transition to practice, and my ongoing practice as a clinical nurse at VCU Health and then later as a nurse leader," said Heather Fudala (B.S. ‘13, Ph.D. ‘22), Ph.D., RN, CCRP, program director of Nursing Research & Innovation at VCU Health. “The program provided me with tools and a safe space to reflect on my own practice as well as nursing critical care practice generally. The tools for and practice of self-reflection are the most impactful skills I took from my time in the Nurse Residency Program. Reflection is a fundamental step to improving not only my own practice but improving nursing practice generally. As the first step in clinical inquiry, it grounds everything I do as a nurse to improve the health, wellness, and outcomes for patients, team members, and the communities we serve.”

Similarly, Dale Wright (B.S. ‘06, M.S. ‘12, D.N.P. ‘22), D.N.P., RN, CNS, ACNS-BC, PCCN, director of nursing practice and quality at VCU Health, credits the program for shaping her approach to evidence-based practice and leadership. 

“The program’s emphasis on evidence-based practice and data-driven decision-making shaped the way I approach nursing," Wright said. "Since then, I’ve continued to use data as a tool to evaluate and enhance care, expanding my view beyond one unit to system-wide metrics and building structures that support clinical excellence across the board."

In 2024, the program marked its 20th anniversary and expanded system-wide, now serving new nurses at Community Memorial Hospital, Tappahannock Hospital, and all VCU Medical Center sites. Plans for the future include refining the curriculum and continuing to innovate program evaluation, all with the support of the School of Nursing as a strategic partner.

A model for the future of nursing

In an era when healthcare systems nationwide are facing challenges with nursing recruitment, retention, and burnout, the VCU Health Nurse Residency Program is a model of sustainability and support. By cultivating a culture of ongoing mentorship, training, and career growth support, it brings VCU Health’s core values of compassion, excellence, and accountability to life, ensuring new nurses not only thrive but lead.

I believe opening doors for the next generation of nurses by forming professional connections and creating new ways of thinking are just one way we can continue to pay it forward.

Keith Wick, M.S.N., RN, NPD-BC
VCU Health nurse residency program coordinator

“The most impactful thing the residency instilled in me was a sense of curiosity. I was so eager to learn everything about nursing and patient care delivery when I began my nursing career, and despite remaining in the same profession I continue to be amazed how I can learn something new every day. The most empowering thing I’ve learned over my time in nursing is how varied the nursing role can be,” said Keith Wick (B.S. ‘14), M.S.N., RN, NPD-BC, VCU Health nurse residency program coordinator. “Leaders at the health system have afforded me countless opportunities for growth, and I believe opening doors for the next generation of nurses by forming professional connections and creating new ways of thinking are just one way we can continue to pay it forward.”

*_{The employee-based nurse residency program at VCU Health is accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education, 655 K Street NW, Suite 750, Washington, DC 20001, (202)887-6791.}