Transforming the Journey for Newly Licensed Registered Nurses: A Community Based Transition-to-Practice Program in Ambulatory Care Settings

<p>Abstract</p> <p> In response to the job shortage for newly licensed registered nurses (RNs), transition to practice and residency programs have been established in many areas of the country including the San Francisco Bay Area. The programs were designed as demonstration projects to assist new graduates by increasing their competence, confidence, and skills, and their employability. Evidence from new graduate programs suggests that the programs provide an important bridge that is necessary for the critical transition from classroom to clinical practice and from newly licensed RN to qualified nursing professional. The University of San Francisco (USF)</p> <p>Transition-To-Practice (nurse residency) program in ambulatory care described in this manuscript was developed and implemented as an innovative and alternative approach to traditional residency programs that has proven successful in increasing the employability of new RN graduates. The program provides a strategy that will enhance newly licensed nurses transition from the academic environment to the professional environment.</p> <p> Transition-to-practice (nurse residency programs) reflect an organizational commitment to support new nurses as they mature into competent professionals. The recent Institute of Medicine report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2010) predicts that in the near future nursing care will be provided less in traditional hospital settings and will instead occur in the community. Therefore it is important to expand transition programs outside of the acute care setting. Community based programs will prepare new nurses for successful practice in ambulatory care settings who will then be ready for the expected transformation of nuring care into the community. The benefits of transition-to-practice (nurse residency) programs include newly licensed RNs who will gain valuable experience in community settings and improved patient care that is an important investment in the future of healthcare.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

Level thesis:degree_level

Project

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Nursing

Year dc:date.available

2013

Author dc:creator

• Halford, Cathryn A, DNP

Contributors dc:contributor

• Judith Lambton
• K.T. Waxman
• Robin Buccheri

• new RNs
• transition-to-practice
• residency
• ambulatory care
• community-based
• academic practice partners
• Medicine and Health Sciences
• Nursing

Repository record dc:identifier

https://repository.usfca.edu/dnp/71

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:repository.usfca.edu:dnp-1082