Nurse Residency Program helps chart professional path

As a newly graduated nurse in 2018, Andrew Hardee felt anxious about starting his professional journey in health care. With help from the Nurse Residency Program and supportive managers at St. Jude, Hardee began his career with confidence and discovered his passion for inspiring future generations of nurses.

“My preceptors at St. Jude created safe spaces to learn, ask questions and mess up in a controlled environment,” recalled Hardee, who is originally from Henderson, Tennessee. “Back when I graduated with my undergraduate degree, becoming a nurse practitioner was not on my radar at all. After a few years at the bedside, I wanted more. I wanted to be more involved in the decision-making process for our patients.” 

Hardee worked five years as a bedside nurse before transitioning into his current role as a nurse practitioner with the Quality of Life for All (QoLA) Team. He lives by the St. Jude Values, especially No. 5—Work collaboratively and help others to succeed.

“Our Quality of Life team gets to work alongside the primary team and other specialty services. In our department, we see firsthand every day how terrible these diseases are and how much suffering they can cause,” he said. “Our overarching goal is to alleviate that suffering as much as we can and make each day the best it can be for our patients and their families. I enjoy getting to work creatively with other disciplines and departments to best support each patient.”

Along with supporting patients throughout their care journeys, Hardee said he enjoys mentoring prospective nurses. He currently serves as an adjunct faculty member for Union University.

“I feel well prepared and confident that I can succeed because of the training and nurturing I have received here at St. Jude, and I want that same thing for more nurses. When my students show interest in being here too, I want to make that possible for them,” he said.

“I am thankful for where I am and what has led me here. This institution is filled with fantastic people across all departments, and being a tiny part of the work that goes on here truly is an honor and a blessing.”