Return on Investment: Benefits and Challenges of a Baccalaureate Nurse Residency Program

Description of Hospital Setting

The Methodist Hospital is a nonprofit health care organization based in Houston, Texas. It is a world-renowned health care institution providing clinical and service excellence and is affiliated with the Texas Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. The Methodist Hospital has served the Houston community for more than 80 years. Since its inception, TMH has extended its health care services beyond the Texas Medical Center and into the neighborhoods throughout the Houston, national, and world communities. TMH is licensed for 1,000 beds. There are 59 operating rooms and 5,193 employees of which 1,400 are registered nurses. In 2003, TMH saw 38,604 inpatients and 323,869 outpatients. More than 4,500 patients were international (The Methodist Hospital, 2004). In 2002, TMH was awarded Magnet^AE status for exceptional nursing, joining a small group of hospitals around the country acknowledged for nursing excellence and superior patient outcomes.

Nurs Econ. 2007;21(5):13-18, 39. © 2007  Jannetti Publications, Inc.

The authors reported no actual or potential conflict of interest in relation to this continuing nursing education article.