Many people who work in health care will tell you that nurses are the heart of the medical system, and that holds true at Washington Regional.

“We often say the difference at Washington Regional is our people, and that is especially true of our nurses,” says Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Meredith Green. “It’s why I’ve spent my entire nursing career at Washington Regional. There is a spirit here of a community caring for each other as well as our patients.”

As the area’s only locally owned and governed, non-profit health care system, Washington Regional’s mission is to improve the health of people in the communities it serves through compassionate, high quality care, prevention and wellness education. The health care system’s nearly 1,200 nurses carry out that mission at its 425-bed medical center in Fayetteville and its 45+ primary care, specialty care and urgent care clinic locations throughout Northwest Arkansas.

Washington Regional provides the highest level of care in the region for many specialties including stroke, trauma and cardiovascular care. It is also home to five medical Centers of Excellence which include:

• J.B. Hunt Transport Services Neuroscience Institute
• Walker Heart Institute
• Women and Infants Center
• Total Joint Center
• Pat Walker Center for Seniors

“We pride ourselves on being the best place to receive care and the best place to give care,” says Green. “We are always looking for skilled, compassionate nurses who can help us achieve that vision while fulfilling their personal and professional goals. And, due to the size of our system, our Centers of Excellence, and clinics, we offer a variety of options for nurses who want to specialize in a particular area.”

Helping team members achieve their goals means equipping them with the resources and tools to do so.

Washington Regional offers a Nurse Residency program designed to help newly graduated registered nurses start their careers with confidence. The program provides a support system by helping them transition to professional practice and become assured and competent care providers.

“In the Nurse Residency program, new nursing graduates are coached into independence by Washington Regional’s experienced and accomplished nursing staff members,” Green explains.

During their residency at Washington Regional, new graduate nurses participate in a variety of sessions designed to strengthen their assessment, critical thinking, communication, teamwork and technical skills in a safe learning environment. The program is offered in addition to their clinical orientation, so it maximizes their opportunities to engage in the medical system and learn about available resources.

“Each new graduate nurse benefits from a strategic, planned blend of classroom and hands-on experience,” says Green. New nurses are also matched with experienced RN preceptors who serve as mentors and help nurture the skills needed for success.

“Whether you are a nurse with decades of experience or a new graduate just beginning your career, we value the work you do and there is a place for you at Washington Regional,” Green says. To explore current nursing career opportunities or learn more about Washington Regional, click here.