Improving New Nurse Experiences by Designing a Unified Nurse Residency Program and Incorporating Wellness Check-Ins...

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Education
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• The initial year of nursing practice presents significant challenges, including high stress, turnover rates, and low engagement.
• Existing nursing shortages exacerbate the difficulties faced by newly qualified nurses.
• Effective integration strategies are crucial for retaining early-career nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To redesign the Nurse Residency Program (NRP) across a multihospital system to enhance new nurse integration.
• To improve the experience of new nurses during their first year of practice.
• To address high turnover and low engagement among early-career nursing staff.

Main Methods:

• Revamped the curriculum of the Nurse Residency Program (NRP).
• Instituted a wellness check-in component within the NRP.
• Implemented the redesigned NRP across a multihospital healthcare system.

Main Results:

• The redesigned Nurse Residency Program (NRP) was positively received by new nurses.
• The program demonstrated an improved ability to individualize the needs of new nurses.
• The initiative aimed to mitigate stress and improve engagement in the first year of practice.

Conclusions:

• Redesigning the Nurse Residency Program (NRP) is an effective strategy for supporting new nurses.
• Personalized support and wellness checks can enhance the integration experience for early-career nurses.
• Addressing the challenges of the first year of practice is vital for nursing workforce stability.