The central staffing office intensive care nurse residency program: A pilot program

Flexible and variable staffing is an economic necessity for hospitals to help with fluctuations in census and acuity. It is critical to move from a unit-centric to an organization-centric model of education and practice. Creating a training methodology for nurse residents to begin their pediatric careers in a variety of intensive care units (ICUs) creates a fluid team of ICU nurse residents trained to provide general care in a large pediatric academic medical center. Orienting nurse residents to an overall departmental ICU program can help control costs and improve morale, satisfaction, teamwork, and enhance recognition, especially for new staff entering the profession.