Homegrown Talent, Exceptional Care: Ozarks Healthcare Welcomes 16 Nurse Residents to the Next Chapter of Their Careers

Ozarks Healthcare is proud to welcome its newest cohort of nurse residents to the health system. These newly graduated registered nurses (RNs) recently completed Ozarks Healthcare's Nurse Residency Program, an intensive eight-week training program designed to provide essential skills, knowledge, and hands-on experience for success in nursing careers.

During the program, nurse residents rotate through approximately 28 to 30 different areas throughout the health system, immersing themselves in Ozarks Healthcare's values, professionalism, and patient-centered culture. This structure helps prepare graduates to deliver exceptional care with confidence and compassion as they transition into professional nursing practice.

“Our newest nurse residents represent the future of healthcare in our communities,” Tonya Aaron, Ozarks Healthcare Chief Nursing Officer, said. “It is inspiring to see these talented individuals begin their careers at Ozarks Healthcare and choose to serve the patients, families, and neighbors who call this region home. Through programs like our Nurse Residency Program and partnerships with local education providers, we are committed to growing the next generation of compassionate healthcare professionals.”

Several of the newest nurse residents are also alumni of Ozarks Healthcare's Inside Track Career Pathways Program, which provides students with firsthand exposure to healthcare careers while pursuing their education. Many of this year's nurse residents attended Missouri State University–West Plains (MSU-WP), a key partner in developing a strong local healthcare workforce. Ozarks Healthcare's collaboration with MSU-WP continues to create opportunities for students to transition directly from the classroom into rewarding healthcare careers serving the communities they call home.

"We are excited to welcome our newest nurse residents to the Ozarks Healthcare family," Katie Johnson, Ozarks Healthcare Nurse Residency Coordinator, said. "Watching these graduates grow in confidence and skill throughout the residency program has been incredibly rewarding. They have demonstrated compassion, professionalism, and a true commitment to providing exceptional patient care. We are proud to support them as they begin their nursing careers and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our patients and communities."

Following completion of the program, members of the cohort have accepted positions across Ozarks Healthcare in a variety of departments, including the Emergency Department, Intensive Care Unit, Medical/Surgical Department, Obstetrics, Clinical Support Unit, Walk-In Clinic, and Women's Health Clinic, helping strengthen access to high-quality care throughout the region.

The following nurse residents have accepted positions across Ozarks Healthcare as follows:

Cassidy Beavers – Medical/Surgical (Med/Surg)

Mandy Cockrum – Obstetrics (OB)

Maddison Dedman – Cardiac Step-down Unit (CSU)

Devona Mitchell – Emergency Department

Justice Pearson – Emergency Department

Zoey Williams – Emergency Department

Jessie Mitchner – Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

Courtney Ames – Cardiac Step-down Unit (CSU)

Kaitlin Shelley – Medical/Surgical (Med/Surg)

Colton Komm – Cardiac Step-down Unit (CSU)

Gretchen Zastrow – Emergency Department

Riley Villavicencio – Emergency Department

Payton Hugg – Department to be determined

Dylan Gleason – Cardiac Step-down Unit (CSU)

Jessica Atwater (not pictured) – Walk-In Clinic

Emily Heller – Women's Health Clinic

As part of the residency program, participants are recognized for demonstrating Ozarks Healthcare's core values through several special awards.

Award recipients include:

Service Award: Courtney Ames

Quality Award: Jessie Mitchner and Justice Pearson

People Award: Maddison Dedman

Growth Award: Devona Mitchell

Community Award: Cassidy Beavers

Outstanding Nurse Resident: Jessie Mitchner

The Nurse Residency Program at Ozarks Healthcare begins each January and June. To be eligible, applicants must have completed an LPN or RN program within six months and have current LPN and/or RN licensure, preferred or scheduled, with successful completion of the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) within 90 days.

For more information about the Ozarks Healthcare Nurse Residency Program or to apply for an upcoming cohort, visit www.ozarkshealthcare.com/careers/nurse-residency-program or call 417-293-8648.

Ozarks Healthcare is a not-for-profit health system that serves more than 160,000 residents across south-central Missouri and northern Arkansas. With its main campus residing in West Plains, Missouri, the health system offers a full spectrum of healthcare for all ages through its 114-bed hospital, behavioral health, therapies, pharmacies, rehabilitation, and home care services, along with specialty and family medicine clinics. Ozarks Healthcare has rural locations across an eight-county service area and is accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

Ozarks Healthcare’s latest cohort of nurse residents to complete its residency program include (pictured from left to right): Zoey Williams, Courtney Ames, Riley Villavicencio, Gretchen Zastrow, Jessie Mitchner, Cassidy Beavers, Justice Pearson, Emily Heller, Mandy Cockrum, Colton Komm, Devona Mitchell, Maddison Dedmon, Dylan Gleason, Payton Hugg, Katelin Shelley, and Katie Johnson, Ozarks Healthcare Nurse Residency Coordinator.