Date of Graduation

Fall 12-13-2013

Document Type

Project

Degree Name

Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)

College/School

School of Nursing and Health Professions

Department/Program

Nursing

Program

Healthcare Systems Leadership DNP

First Advisor

Judith Lambton

Second Advisor

K.T. Waxman

Third Advisor

Robin Buccheri

Abstract

Abstract

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)

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.

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.

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