In this comprehensive resource, nursing staff development expert Jim Hansen, MSN, RN-BC, provides instruction and tools to plan, justify, and structure a nurse residency program that develops and retains new nurses through their first year

New graduate nurses encounter "transition shock" when they enter the workplace, especially in acute care settings such as hospitals. New graduate nurses have a difficult time transitioning into the work environment because they are unprepared by their academic training for the realities they will face and they often don't have the proper support in place to guide them through the transition. This leads to a high attrition rate of up to 30% within the first 18 months of employment which costs hospitals and health care facilities. High nurse turnover of new graduate nurses who aren't prepared for the complexities of clinical practice affect the quality of care provided. Patient outcomes are negatively affected because it often leaves hospitals dealing with a shortage of experienced nurses, which they compensate for by having high patient to nurse ratios. New graduate nurses must develop the necessary critical thinking skills to handle higher acuity patients and difficult situations, develop confidence in their clinical skills, and adapt to peer relationships. One solution to the "transition shock" that new graduate nurses face is the implementation of nurse residency programs. Nurse residency programs are shown to help new graduates have a better transition into the workplace and increase nurse retention. This paper discusses the problem of new graduate nurse turnover, the benefits of nurse residency programs, and the numerous research studies which have been done showing the success of nurse residency programs on new nurse graduate retention and job satisfaction. It also discusses how to implement a nurse residency program and monitor and evaluate its success.

"New graduate nurse residency programs' primary function is to provide new graduates with clinical experience and bridge the gap between student and competent registered nurse (Walsh, 2018). While the focus of these programs is on teaching new graduates, a gap in practice has been identified when it comes to the education of the nurses that are training these new graduates. The purpose of this program evaluation was to increase preceptor feelings of preparedness for the precepting role, as well as increase preceptor education attendance rates to at least 50% of eligible nurses. This was a program evaluation with a pre-/post-test design that evaluated the impact of preceptor education in 10 registered nurses. Participants submitted surveys to evaluate their feelings of support and preparedness for their educator roles before and after the educational presentation. There was a statistically significant increase in post-education scores (M=11.2, SD=2.15) when compared to pre-education scores (M=6.6, SD=2.8); t(9) = -5.81, p=0.00025597. Furthermore, 100% of respondents had a higher total score on the post-survey than the pre-survey with a mean difference of +4.6 points +/-2.5 (SD), indicating that they felt more supported and prepared to act as preceptors after the education. By offering a preceptor education curriculum that is easily accessible, organizations will see increased attendance rates and therefore higher feelings of support and preparedness from nurse preceptors. These preceptors will then be able to teach and empower new RNs on their journey to practice, offering a smoother and safer transition to professional independence, and decreasing burnout rates and turnover costs to the healthcare organization (Trepanier et al., 2012)"--Abstract.

This binder and CD-ROM walk you through each step of a well-run orientation program so you can incorporate field-tested, evidence-based practices at your facility. Use this resource to evaluate your program outcomes, fulfill Joint Commission orientation requirements, train new graduates, and meet the needs of a diverse workforce.

Health care facilities across the United States have implemented innovative approaches such as nurse residency programs to facilitate a successful transition to practice for new nurses. Many nurse residency programs evaluate their effectiveness by assessing critical thinking abilities, retention, return on investment, and job satisfaction. Evaluations are conducted using surveys and focus groups. However, there is a void in the literature that examines the effectiveness of a new nurse residency program from the participants' perspective; particularly asking the resident how the nurse residency program has advanced them to become a more competent professional. The theoretical model framing this investigation is Patricia Benner's novice to expert theory. The purpose of this qualitative case study is to understand participants' perceptions of a nurse residency program, specifically looking at how the program transitioned them from advanced beginner to competent nurse professional. The study sample included eight participants employed in a health care facility located in the southeastern United States. Open-ended research questions were designed to elicit the new nurses' perceptions of the effectiveness of a nurse residency program. Data collection was conducted using interviews and audio recordings. Emerging themes indicated that pre-experiences and expectations, leadership and professional development, stress and coping, supportive cohort, program improvements, and reflection on confidence and competency were fundamental elements for an effective nurse residency program. One recommendation from this study was for pre-residency assessment tools to be given to residents for customization to better facilitate the transition of new nurses to a competent professional.

Nurse residency programs are evidenced based structures and processes that support newly licensed nurses' successful transition from student to professional nurse during the first year of practice. Nurse residency programs are endorsed by the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), the National League for Nursing (NLN), and the Institute of Medicine (IOM). The purpose of this literature review is to identify the essential components of successful nurse residency programs and associated nurse outcomes post completion. The review identified the five essential program components that lead to positive outcomes of increased retention, competency, and job satisfaction. The five essentials are a nurturing learning environment, supportive leadership, having a mentor or preceptor, peer support systems, and an increase in clinical time for skill mastery. Implications for nursing education and recommendation re presented.

Healthcare Simulation Program Builder helps healthcare professionals who want to use simulation to improve orientation and preceptorships, build nurse competency, enhance nurse residency programs, and strengthen interprofessional communication across the entire healthcare team.

The organization that served as the study site for this project has two nurse residency programs that compete for resource allocation, space, informational materials, and human resources. The DNP project was conducted to combine the programs to eliminate waste and ensure the combined program met with the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education standards for accreditation of entry-to-practice nurse residency programs. A literature review was used to evaluate practice themes for a formal residency program, and Benner’s novice to expert theory was chosen to guide the program development. A team of nurse educators and managers met via teleconferencing to review the curricula of both programs and compare these to the best practice literature. The teams met over several weeks and achieved consensus on the structure and process for a single best practice nurse residency program. The project had the potential to provide a developmental framework for advanced practice residency and interprofessional trainee programs. Aligning the two programs assured best evidence-based practice and conservation of resources. The goal was to improve new graduate retention within an extensive federal system. Keywords: new nurse satisfaction, BSN residency program recruitment and retention, baccalaureate nurse satisfaction, new nurse shortage, new nurse satisfaction, nurse turnover