Transition Into Practice: Beyond Hospital Walls

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development

Background:

• Nurse residency programs are crucial but rarely implemented outside hospitals.
• This study examines an out-of-hospital nurse residency program for Bachelor of Science in Nursing graduates.
• An academic-practice partnership facilitated the program's implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the experiences and outcomes of nurses in an out-of-hospital residency.
• To assess the program's impact on confidence, competence, job satisfaction, and retention.

Main Methods:

• Employed a mixed-methods design.
• Included pre- and postresidency qualitative interviews.
• Utilized quantitative surveys: Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey, job satisfaction, and preceptee evaluation surveys.

Main Results:

• Forty-four nurses participated in the study.
• Qualitative findings were corroborated by quantitative data.
• The out-of-hospital residency program significantly enhanced nurses' confidence, competence, job satisfaction, and retention.

Conclusions:

• Nurse residencies should be standard for all new graduates, irrespective of setting, to enhance workforce stability and patient outcomes.
• Academic-practice partnerships are vital for building capacity in non-hospital settings.
• Implementing residencies universally can reduce turnover and improve patient care.