Cardiac services nurse residency

Abstract

This professional project was born out of a specific need within the cardiac services department at Kalispell Regional Medical Center. In order to describe, and best determine the exact needs of the cardiac services department, a clinical microsystem assessment was completed for the department focusing on the 'five P's' of the assessment process; Purpose, Patients, Processes, Professionals, Patterns. Information obtained from the microsystem assessment highlighted the need for additional staffing. Factors such as retirement, department growth, and turnover have left the department chronically short staffed. Chronic short staffing has resulted in long work hours and routine overtime. Attempts at hiring experienced nurses have not been successful enough to meet the department demand. Evidence would support nursing residency programs as one solution to staffing shortages. Therefore, a literature review was completed regarding the design and success of nurse residency programs. Given the issues of persistent short staffing, and the subsequent increased work load for staff, a proposal for the development of a unit specific nurse residency program was made. This professional project proposes a 16 week unit specific nurse residency program designed to be integrated into the existing organizational program. The programs includes components of preceptorship, mentoring, and didactics. The goal of the proposed nurse residency program would be to provide education, professional support, and mentoring to new graduate nurses interested in cardiac care in order to satisfy long term staffing needs within the department.