Lower Keys Medical Center Celebrates Nurse Residency Graduates Program Drives Quality, Nursing Recruitment and Retention in the Keys
10/22/2026
Lower Keys Medical Center (LKMC) recently honored five registered nurses who completed the hospital’s New Graduate RN Residency Program. Established in 2019, the program provides new nurses with specialized clinical training and one-on-one mentorship, ensuring a seamless transition from academic learning to bedside care.
Newly hired RNs at LKMC rotate through specialized hospital units under the guidance of experienced nurse preceptors, reinforcing a strong culture of quality, safety, and local career longevity.
“Our priority is providing new nurses with the tools, resources and clinical confidence they need to deliver exceptional care right here at home,” said Drew Bigby, chief executive officer of Lower Keys Medical Center. “We are committed to building a highly skilled healthcare workforce that lives and works in the Lower Keys for years to come so our patients receive high-quality care from clinicians who are part of this community.”
The latest residency cohort includes Monique Lomrance, Samantha Caram, Nicole Boucher, Jack Melton and Tierney Boyle. Four graduates have joined the medical-surgical unit, supporting patients recovering from surgery or managing complex medical conditions. The fifth graduate completed intensive care unit training and is advancing through a specialized professional development curriculum to join LKMC’s 24/7 cardiac catheterization lab team.
“Our unwavering commitment to patient safety and clinical excellence is central to everything we do,” added Bigby. “This program reinforces our culture of safety with the next generation of nurse leaders, directly contributing to our strong clinical outcomes.”
LKMC’s focus on quality is reflected in its CMS 4-Star quality rating and a major safety milestone: celebrating four consecutive years without a serious safety event. Nurses in residency learn clinical best practices that support the safety and quality of care they deliver to build on the hospital’s clinical record.
LKMC maintains a pipeline of nursing talent through an ongoing partnership with The College of the Florida Keys (CFK); the hospital donated $100,000 in 2025 and 2026, with an additional pledge committed for 2027 to advance local nursing education. Four of the five new residency graduates are CFK alumni who chose to stay and practice in the community.
For more information about the Lower Keys Medical Center New Graduate RN Residency Program, contact HR@LKMC.com.
Celebrating nurses who completed the New Graduate RN Residency Program are: Michael Hales, chief nursing officer; Monique Lomrance; Rosanna Mullen, chief quality officer; Tadd Mallard, director of emergency services; Angelina Ashler, director of ICU/hematology; Dr. Arquimedos Losado; Samantha Caram; Nicole Boucher, Jolene Evans, director of nursing; Jack Melton; Tiffany James, manager of clinical education. Tierney Boyle was absent from the photo.
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