Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)’s Nurse Residency Program is the first in Pennsylvania to receive “Accreditation with Distinction” through the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Practice Transition Accreditation Program® and has earned Program Accreditation with Distinction three times. This recognition means LVHN’s program, now part of Jefferson Health, is among the best in the nation at preparing you for a successful and rewarding career in nursing.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN)’s Nurse Residency Program is the first nurse residency program in Pennsylvania to receive “Accreditation with Distinction” from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and has maintained Program Accreditation with Distinction three times.
What ANCC Accreditation Means to You
1. Be empowered to change practice. You’ll participate in small-group discussions, learn how to effectively engage with other members of the healthcare team, and effectively produce evidence-based practice projects. Previous nurse residency projects have changed practices at LVHN resulting in better patient outcomes and greater patient satisfaction.

2. Learn leadership skills. The program’s curriculum is designed to instill confidence and understanding in new nurses as they work through the challenges of becoming nurse leaders, clinical decision-makers, and competent researchers.

3. Grow as a professional nurse. By participating in an ANCC-accredited nurse residency program that meets rigorous criteria, you’ll apply what you learned in school in real-world situations. You’ll develop professional nursing competency and confidence as a leader.

Frequently Asked Questions

The LVHN Nurse Residency Program is a yearlong development course that utilizes evidence-based curriculum from the Vizient/AACN (American Association of Colleges of Nursing) Nurse Residency Program. This curriculum is considered the gold standard among nurse residency programs and will provide newly licensed nurses with a foundation for clinical leadership, critical thinking, decision making, and professionalism. The program emphasizes regularly scheduled interactive forums, access to content experts, and participation in an evidence-based project. 

All newly licensed nurses who have graduated from an accredited nursing program within the previous 12 months and starting their first professional nursing role are eligible and enrolled. This includes bachelor’s-prepared nurses (BSN) and associate degree (AD) and diploma nurses.

You and fellow nurse residents will meet for educational seminars with nurse experts from across the region, participate in peer support discussions, and engage in simulation activities led by your Nurse Residency Program coordinators. You will work in small groups with other nurse residents under the guidance of an experienced nurse resident facilitator. 

As part of your small group, you and your nurse resident colleagues will develop a clinical, evidence-based performance improvement project, with the goal of identifying and improving patient care, efficiencies, or other systems at LVHN. Evidence-based performance improvement studies are expected among the professional nursing staff within our region and have led to enhancements and practice changes that result in better patient outcomes and greater patient satisfaction.

Nursing students who haven’t graduated yet may apply for our Nurse Extern Program. Nurse extern positions allow nursing students to work in an acute hospital setting and gain valuable insight and experience during summer months, holiday breaks, or throughout the school year.