Perriton, Kiersten; Eppley, Sydnie; Young, Colleen (Utah Valley University)
Faculty Advisor: Jensen, Francine (Utah Valley University, Nursing)
Purpose: To determine the preparedness of new graduate nurses to practice after completion of nurse residency programs.
Background: New graduate nurses often feel anxious, concerned or ill prepared to practice as nurses on their own. New graduate nurses worry if the residency program has prepared them for their first nursing job sufficiently for them to gain enough confidence and skill to be on their own. Studies on nurse residency programs show that nurses who complete one-year nurse residency programs had remarkable increases in communicating with family, patients and team members, confidence in skills, and ability to prioritize and organize work. There is a need for continued education, such as nurse residency programs and an active interest in new graduate nurses, such as involved mentors or preceptors to help strengthen clinical reasoning and preparedness of new graduate nurses. Stress in new graduate nurses can impede patient safety and can result in the new nurse quitting the position. When new graduates have designated mentors, fit well with unit socialization, and are oriented to multiple areas, it has been identified that it can build their confidence levels and improve retention rates of new graduate nurses. Nurse residency programs need to provide high quality orientation to help them master their careers.
Significance: This research can give insight into whether the implementation of nurse residency programs helps new nurses feel ready to practice on their own. This information may help provide increased safety and quality of care to patients due to new graduate nurses feeling competent and confident to carry out the patient's health care plan. This can help healthcare companies determine if current programs are effective and what needs to be changed. New nurse graduates may gain confidence, practice with increased patient safety, and corporations may retain the new nurses they have just trained.