Five newly graduated registered nurses were welcomed into the health care family at Doctors Hospital this past week through the auspices of the Versant program to complete their residency with the DHM staff.
The Versant New Graduate Residency is a comprehensive education and training system designed specifically to transition newly graduated registered nurses from students to safe, competent and professional practitioners.  New graduate nurses are considered to be those who have less than six months of nursing experience.
Eda Mastrapasquia is working as a resident in the Multi-Specialty Unit on the day shift.  She originally came from Turkey not speaking a word of English, she noted.  Before entering college in the U.S. she first had to learn the language to make her way through the educational and medical maze of her dreams. 
Eda graduated from Merrit College in Oakland and now lives in Antioch, commuting to her new assignment in Manteca.  She served as an au-pair, nanny and caregiver for private families in the Bay Area, while putting herself through school to learn English and become proficient in the Nursing Program.
Haley Baldwin is now an RN resident in the Multi-Specialty Unit on the night shift. She graduated in the RN program at San Joaquin Delta College in Stockton and currently lives in Brentwood. 
Her past experience includes being a medication technician, personal care assistant and a teacher’s assistant at a preschool. 
Heather Spencer is an RN resident in intensive care unit and the critical care unit on the night shift.  She received her Bachelor’s Degree in nursing from National University in San Diego while living with her sister and waiting for her husband to relocate.  Both their families are from the Central Valley.
Her past experience includes being a healthcare partner for Sharp Healthcare and a supervisor for Starbucks Coffee Company.
Felicia Cardenas is working as a registered nurse resident in the Multi-Specialty Unit on the night shift.  She received her Bachelor’s in nursing from California State University, Stanislaus, in Turlock and currently lives in Modesto.
Felicia’s work experience includes being a nanny to an Autistic child and hospital scribe as well as a trainer at Memorial Medical Center in Modesto.
Jennifer Carranza is doing her nursing residency in the Multi-Specialty Unit on the day shift at Doctors.  She is a graduate of San Joaquin Delta College nursing program in Stockton and lives in French Camp.
Jennifer’s work experience includes being a scrip office coordinator at St. Anthony of Padua’s parish school and a student nurse for the family maternity center at San Joaquin General Hospital in French Camp.
The cadre of nurses were welcomed to the hospital by a number of nursing supervisors with cake and refreshments at the hospital’s conference room last week where they were able to talk with staff members on a one-to-one basis and hear their expectations.