Five graduate nurses picked from a field of 187 applicants were welcomed into Doctors Hospital’s six-month-long Versant internship program at a noon luncheon on Wednesday in the DHM conference room.

This is the 10th year the hospital has offered the cohort residency program where the interns will work in various departments at the hospital alongside mentoring registered nurses.

All five women have earned their bachelor’s degrees with a variety of backgrounds to their credit.  They include Irma Bernal, of Delhi; Barbara Cummins, of Oakdale; Ashley Holyoak, also of Oakdale; Viktoriya Pilipovich, of Salida and Whitney Hansen, of Oakdale.

Bernal is a graduate of the CSU, Sacramento.  She worked as a CNA at the Sutter Oaks Alzheimer Center in Sacramento and also served as a substitute teacher from kindergarten through 12th grade. She is being assigned as an RN resident in the Multi-Specialty Unit on the day shift.

Cummins received her degree from CSU, Stanislaus having worked as an office manager for a chiropractic center, and  in customer service for an Oakdale business and as a volunteer at Emanuel Hospital.  She is being assigned as a resident in the Med Surge Unit on the night shift.

Holyoak also gained her degree from CSU, Stanislaus.  She has worked as an officer manager for a dentist and as a Career Transition Specialist at the Treasure Island Job Corps Center. She is being assigned as an RN Resident in the Med Surge Unit, also working nights.

Pilipovich graduated from CSU, Sacramento and has worked as a registered nurse at the American Laser Skincare Center.  She has been given the assignment of working as a Resident RN in the Multi-Specialty Unit on days.

Hansen is also a grad of CSU, Stanislaus and is a licensed Optician through Lens Crafters. She has been assigned as an RN Resident in the Med Surge South on the night shift.