Program evaluation of a nurse-residency program

Abstract

While the number of graduates from schools of nursing is increasing, there is a national trend that shows they are leaving the profession at alarming rates. This problem could potentially contribute to decreased patient outcomes and increased costs to facilities as they are continuously recruiting and training new nurses. Furthermore, research suggests that the transition to practice is a stressful period, and new graduates who receive support and guidance through nurse-residency programs tend to have higher satisfaction rates, deliver better patient care, and have lower turnover rates. Therefore, the purpose of this project was to evaluate the nurse-residency program in a local, level-two trauma center in rural central Montana that can serve up to 34,000 patients a year. A convenience sample of 13 registered nurses who completed the nurse-residency program or who were currently enrolled in the program and graduated within a year of beginning the residency program were surveyed using the Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey (New Graduate Survey). Also, a convenience sample of 41 staff members of the local emergency department, which included registered nursing staff who didn't participate in the nurse-residency program, operations specialists, physicians, and paramedics, were given an adapted Casey-Fink Graduate Nurse Experience Survey to evaluate their perception of the new graduates' readiness to practice. Project results indicate that new graduates who participated in the program tend to be more confident, the nurse-residency program is meeting the needs of the new graduates, and retention rates of the new graduates has increased since the inception of the program. Facilities and management can incorporate these findings into developing and maintaining nurse-residency programs in order to improve patient outcomes and new-graduate satisfaction and retention rates.