Naperville nursing students learning on the job

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Updated: August 4, 2011 4:20PM

Naperville Central High School alumni Cassi Adams and Stephanie Masella have seen firsthand that nurses not only care about patients, they care about each other.

The two nurses, who are starting their medical careers in the 2010 New Graduate RN Residency program at Adventist Midwest Health Hospitals, are reaping the benefits of the mentoring program that began last year.

“Our goal is to develop these nurses as they transition from student to safe and competent practitioners,” said Katie Weibel, new graduate RN educator at Adventist Midwest Health. “Nursing school cannot fully prepare these candidates as they enter the atmosphere of a hospital. They need real work experience. Our program allows them to function as nurses with additional support from experienced staff.”

The competitive program places new nursing school graduates in frontline hospital jobs at a time when jobs for new graduates are limited. Out of 372 applicants, only 24 nurses were accepted into the program.

“The graduates selected to participate in this program are truly the cream of the crop,” Weibel said. “They are all extremely excited and eager to practice and learn in such a supportive and nurturing environment.”

Adams graduated from the University of Iowa in May and is currently a medical surgical nurse at Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital. The 22-year-old said she feels very fortunate to be working at a hospital that invests in its future employees.

“Adventist is dedicated to building and expanding a hospital that focuses on outstanding patient care, and they want the new grads to have a true passion for nursing,” Adams said. “The more experienced nurses are awesome, always looking to help and teach us.”

The new nurses not only benefit from a mentoring relationship with veteran nurses, they also share camaraderie with their fellow classmates in the nursing residence program.

“I knew I wanted to work for a hospital that was dedicated to giving the best patient care possible, and somewhere where I could share my experiences with other new grads,” Adams said. “It helps to work with others who are in the same situation, so you can build off of each other.”

Masella, 25, graduated from the University of St. Francis in December 2009, and is an operating room nurse at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital. She said the team at Hinsdale has done everything to make the transition from student to nurse easier.

“It is a lot of work for them,” Masella said. “To have this kind of support is amazing. It’s tough starting out, and they know it’s tough. They want to make sure we know what we are doing, and they are there coaching us.”

Besides the support of veteran nurses, Masella said she also learns from her peers.

“A great part of the new grad program is that it gives you a support system,” she said. “You have people that understand where you are because they are going through the same thing. We meet monthly and share information, and find out that we have similar challenges.”

Masella and Adams did not know each other when they were students at Central, but now are learning the ropes together as professionals. Both agree there are things learned on the hospital floor that can’t be found in a textbook.

“In nursing, teaching is so important,” Masella said. “I definitely want to be that person someday that all of these great nurses have been for me. They are invaluable to me.”