Experience of New Graduate Nurses in Nurse Residency Programs During the COVID-19 World Pandemic

Individuals who entered any nursing program during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) world pandemic were exposed to a different and chaotic learning environment. The goal of this study was to describe the experience of 452 new graduate nurses (NGNs) who entered the profession between 2020 and 2022.

This study was a qualitative thematic analysis of an open-ended survey from the American Nurses Credentialing Center Practice Transition Accreditation Program^® (PTAP^®).

The thematic analysis resulted in five themes: the pandemic was a significant disruptor, the program was a generally negative experience, the quality of the preceptors and mentors made a difference, the content of the program made an impact, and the residency program prepared NGNs for the RN role by building confidence and promoting relationship building and a sense of community.

The 2020-2022 world pandemic created a challenging environment for NGNs to enter nursing and had implications for practice. [.