UNC Health Blue Ridge and Western Piedmont Community College (WPCC) proudly announce the graduation of the first cohort of the Nursing Critical Care Residency Program, marking a significant milestone in enhancing advanced nursing education and strengthening critical care services within the region.

Thirteen nurses completed the rigorous residency program, which included the AACN ICU ECCO (Essentials of Critical Care Nursing Orientation) curriculum, hands-on SIM lab training at WPCC, and on-site clinical experience with UNC Health Rex.

“UNC Health Blue Ridge is proud to partner with Western Piedmont Community College on the completion of our first Nursing Critical Care Residency Program. We were able to graduate a total of 13 nurses through the program, which consisted of completing the AACN ICU ECCO program, SIM lab scenarios with WPCC, and on-site clinical time with our partners at UNC Health Rex,” the Clinical Practice Director, Pamela Baden, said. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our nurses, our patients, and the community. With this advanced knowledge, we are better prepared to keep patients in their community hospital and to recruit the best nurses and physicians in the area. We look forward to the continued success of this program and are preparing to expand opportunities to other areas of the hospital.”

The residency program is designed to empower new critical care nurses with the skills, confidence, and clinical readiness needed to deliver expert care where it is needed most. More than a training initiative, the program represents a shared commitment to excellence, resilience, and community-centered healthcare. The graduates are now equipped to make a profound impact on the lives of patients and families across our community. We applaud these trailblazers as they step into their leadership roles in critical care,” the announcement noted.

WPCC leaders echoed the significance of the partnership and its impact on the region’s healthcare workforce.

“Western Piedmont Community College is proud to partner with UNC Health Blue Ridge in our shared commitment to advancing the quality of healthcare within our community,” Dean of Health and Human Services, Ava Yamouti, said.

UNC Health Blue Ridge and WPCC look forward to expanding the residency model into additional hospital departments, further supporting workforce development and high-quality patient care across the region.

Published: 11/19/2025