INTRODUCTION: Erin Smital, Nursing Professional Development Educator & Nurse Residency Coordinator, RWHC

We offer a Nurse Residency Program that is designed for the new graduate nurse. It is structured around monthly learning sessions, with a focus on providing an interactive, reflective and enriched learning environment. The program is designed to enhance recruitment/retention of the new graduate nurse and support their transition into a competent practitioner. I am proud to announce that we recently completed year 18 of this program. I asked our participants to write an open letter to "The nurse struggling right now... ". These kind words of support and encouragement are meant for every nurse, in every position, in every stage of their career.

You’re here because you’re awesome! You are strong and you persevered! Congratulations! Celebrate that! You know more than you think you do—trust me. Ask questions. Have a growth mindset.

Don’t settle for just being a nurse; strive for being a great nurse; someone others want to emulate. Set goals and work toward them. Seek opportunities to learn and experience new things. Be kind to coworkers and patients. We don’t know what life they have at home. Take time for yourself—a weekend getaway, a massage, lunch with a friend.

Learn from your mistakes. Find someone at work or at resident you can confide in and vent about a difficult shift.