Nora McDonough Nurse Residency Program

Brigham and Women's Hospital Department of Nursing is committed to providing comprehensive support for our nurse residents as they begin their careers and advance their practice.

The Nora McDonough Nurse Residency Program, in partnership with the nationally recognized Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program™, focuses on three critical areas: leadership, patient outcomes and professional role. The evidence-based curriculum contains classroom learning and clinical experience that is designed to effectively transition nurse residents into the nursing practice environment during their first year and to become leaders at the point of care.

The year-long program is grounded in Benner's conceptual framework: Novice to Expert, with a focus on enhancing participants' knowledge, leadership skills and ability to analyze and use evidence and application of outcomes data to improve patient outcomes.

Brigham nurses and nurse leaders discuss the Nurse Residency Program with Robert S.D. Higgins, MD, MSHA, who served as President of Brigham and Women's Hospital from 2021 to 2024. Watch video.

Program Benefits

• Central orientation
• Unit-based orientation supported by dedicated, trained preceptors
• The opportunity to gain clinical practice experience in a supportive learning environment
• Structured 4-hour monthly educational seminars designed to develop clinical reasoning and competence in practice through didactic presentations, facilitated small group discussion, and simulation-based learning
• Mentored clinical relationships with expert facilitators
• Membership in a supportive cohort that allows for professional growth in a safe, protected environment

Goals for Nurse Residents

• Transitioning from an advanced beginner nurse to competent professional nurse
• Further developing effective decision-making skills related to clinical judgment and performance
• Strengthening your commitment to the profession of nursing
• Incorporating research-based evidence into the care you provide and linking this to practice outcomes
• Completing an evidence-based practice project

Program Eligibility

• Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing from an accredited school of nursing
• Current, unencumbered license to practice nursing in Massachusetts
• There is no application process all newly licensed nurses hired to work at Brigham & Women’s Hospital are welcomed into a nurse residency cohort

For more information, email BWHNLNProgram@bwh.harvard.edu or call 617-525-8485.