Two Unique Journeys, One Shared Calling
Nina and Katrina started with TRU one year ago and have completed at least 62 contact hours of education in our residency program, along with over 2,000 on-the-job learning hours. As Rachel Stackhouse, Clinical Educator Supervisor, notes, “Few new graduates want to begin their career with hospice, but both Nina and Katrina clearly have the hospice calling and have found their niche within TRU.”
Getting to know them over this year has revealed their unique strengths. “Nina is a practical soul who is so eager to help and wants things to make sense,” notes Rachel. “Katrina is a helper at her core, always happy to assist her team, her patients, and keeps all her ducks in a row. ”
For Katrina, the path to hospice nursing was intentional from the beginning. “What initially drew me to nursing was actually my deep interest in hospice care,” she shares. “I went into nursing school knowing this was what I wanted to specialize in. From early on, I’ve been drawn to this specialty because of the intimate, one-on-one patient care it allows. There’s something profoundly meaningful about being present with someone during such a vulnerable and sacred time in their life.”
Program Evolution and Growth
Since we featured our first residency graduate in August 2023, the program has undergone significant refinement and expansion. We’ve learned that successful resident support requires regular touchpoints with residents, managers, and preceptors. One of our most valuable additions has been monthly lunch meetings where new graduates share both personal and professional experiences while receiving tips and guidance from each other.
These gatherings have proven instrumental in building connections between new graduates and fostering a sense of community. The lunches also strengthen relationships with educators, creating accessible support systems for moments when residents might question their judgment or simply need another nurse’s perspective.
Remarkable Achievements and Milestones
The completion of TRU’s residency program positions these nurses for Board Certification, with the option to pursue Geriatric Board Certification—an additional credential recognizing mastery in specialty nursing. Throughout their first year, both residents have developed crucial skills including autonomous assessment, advanced nursing techniques, physician collaboration, patient advocacy, family education, needs anticipation, time management, and the ability to identify and palliate the various stages of the dying process.
Making Lasting Contributions
Both residents have left their mark on TRU through significant University of Iowa projects. Katrina tackled the complex challenge of antibiotic stewardship in hospice care, developing infection control protocols that balance appropriate treatment with hospice philosophy. Her research has already changed her own practice approach, making her more mindful of prescription stewardship and collaborative infection prevention strategies.
“Through this research, I gained a deeper understanding of how frequently antibiotics are prescribed and how we might better prevent infections through non-pharmacologic means and proactive care,” Katrina explains. “I can say with confidence that the project changed the way I practice. I’m much more mindful now of prescription stewardship and collaborative approaches to infection prevention.”
Nina created a spiritual care guide to help staff navigate different belief systems and values at end-of-life — a project that addressed a need we didn’t even realize existed until she brought the idea forward. Many staff members have already benefited from this valuable resource.
Looking Forward
With Nina and Katrina’s graduation, we’re transitioning from supporting four residents to two, but expansion is on the horizon. This fall, we’ll welcome two additional residents at TRU, and we anticipate an additional 1-2 new graduates from our affiliation with St. Paul’s Senior Services.
The Rewards of Mentorship
“When we start residency, we meet nurses who are hopeful, eager and unsure,” Rachel reflected. “As we move through their first year, we get to experience their growing confidence, coach them through some of their first mistakes, and support them in times when they’re not sure they want to do this work.”
She notes that both Nina and Katrina fully committed to the program and placed their trust in Rachel and Clinical Educator Chloe Brown to guide them effectively. “To see them grounded and growing by the end of the first year is life-giving to us as educators, but also to their preceptors and colleagues,” Rachel says. “They remind all of us how much time it takes to hone the skills in nursing and draws us back to the reason why we wanted to do this work in the first place.”
Despite inevitable challenges, both residents maintained their sense of purpose and emerged stronger. “They held onto their ‘why’ and came through some hard days, stronger and ready to face new challenges,” Rachel observes. “It is so much more rewarding to teach a person to fish, than it is to give them the fish. Thanks to Nina and Katrina’s commitment to this year long journey, that is what we have succeeded in as a team.”
For Katrina, the most meaningful aspect of her work remains the human connection. “What brings me the most satisfaction is being able to truly see and treat people as individuals in a system that too often reduces them to numbers,” she reflects. “I believe our healthcare system frequently overlooks the humanity of patients, and I take pride in doing the opposite—taking the time to understand each person, respect their autonomy, and tailor their care to their unique needs and goals.”
A Foundation for Excellence
As Nina and Katrina officially graduate this July, they carry with them not just the technical skills and clinical knowledge gained through the residency program, but also the confidence and competence that comes from being thoroughly prepared for the challenges and rewards of hospice nursing. They represent the future of compassionate end-of-life care.
Their success reinforces TRU’s belief in the value of the nurse residency program and the organization’s commitment to supporting new graduates who feel called to hospice care. When nurses find their professional home in hospice with proper support and mentorship, patients and families benefit from the dedication and expertise that comes from professionals who have chosen this specialty with intentionality.
Congratulations, Nina and Katrina, on this significant achievement. Your dedication, growth, and contributions to TRU and the broader nursing community exemplify the very best of what the nursing profession has to offer.
