Nurturing a Healthy Work Environment for New Graduate Nurses in a Large Multi-site Healthcare System
Abstract
This innovative program began with the New Graduate Registered Nurse (NGRN) cohort completing an initial survey and reflection. In alignment with literature findings, program data revealed NGRNs experienced heightened levels of stress and anxiety related to academic disruptions, limited resources, sudden change, and uncertainty in the healthcare environment due to the pandemic3,4. With guidance from evidence-based practice standards, key stakeholders identified an aim to enhance the well-being of NGRNs by adapting and incorporating the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Six Standards of healthy work environment. The Six Standards include 1.) Skilled communication, 2.) True collaboration, 3.) Effective decision making, 4.) Appropriate staffing, 5.) Meaningful recognition, and 6.) Authentic leadership1. This NGRN TTP program incorporates an educational design and structure embedding these standards. Professional growth and development, through leadership, ensures meaningful NGRN experiential learnings. This is evidenced throughout patient care, supporting strong teamwork, effective communication, quality outcomes, and fostering a culture which enhances healthy relationships1,2.
Beginning with New Nurse Orientation (NNO), AACN Standards 1, 2, and 3 are incorporated utilizing TeamSTEPPS and Professional Practice Model, Mission, Vision, and Core Values5. Reinforcing these Standards is enhanced by the inclusion of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice and Nursing Code of Ethics during weekly reflections, incremental goals, and professional development sessions.
Nursing leaders, nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners, and clinical preceptors are mentored to incorporate AACN Standard 4 by matching individual NGRN patient assignment to individual competency with appropriate patient load, patient dynamics, and weekly incremental goals throughout the precepted phase of their journey. Meaningful recognition (Standard 5) is integrated into the program through peer feedback, on the spot recognition, debriefing, formalized mentorship summit, commencement, and NGRN celebration. NGRNs are recognized for the value of work they bring to the quality care of their patients and support of our organization’s mission and vision.
Nursing Leaders embrace the six healthy work environment standards which contributes to a compassionate, welcoming, and safe high-quality environment for NGRNs to enhance skills, improve self-confidence, and professional development (Standard 6)5. At the completion of the NGRN TTP program, formalized evaluative post program surveys are conducted to determine the effectiveness of AACN healthy work environment standards implementation and outcomes.
The New Graduate RN transition to practice program is an ideal educational structure to embed the six AACN HWE standards and guides leaders in the design of programmatic elements to ensure our new graduate nurses first patient encounters, interactions, and impressions foster both their professional development, personal growth, and support the establishment of lasting healthy relationships.
Notes
Presenter notes available in attached slide deck.
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Non-member
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses, Work Environment, Program Development, Personnel Retention, New Graduate Nurses, Registered Nurses, Transitional Programs, Hospital Nursing Staff
Recommended Citation
Lopez, Vanessa C.; Ferrer, Nicole M.; Schultz, Lori S.; and Dunbar, Ghada B., "Nurturing a Healthy Work Environment for New Graduate Nurses in a Large Multi-site Healthcare System" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 117.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/117
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-03-04
Nurturing a Healthy Work Environment for New Graduate Nurses in a Large Multi-site Healthcare System
Washington, DC, USA
This innovative program began with the New Graduate Registered Nurse (NGRN) cohort completing an initial survey and reflection. In alignment with literature findings, program data revealed NGRNs experienced heightened levels of stress and anxiety related to academic disruptions, limited resources, sudden change, and uncertainty in the healthcare environment due to the pandemic3,4. With guidance from evidence-based practice standards, key stakeholders identified an aim to enhance the well-being of NGRNs by adapting and incorporating the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Six Standards of healthy work environment. The Six Standards include 1.) Skilled communication, 2.) True collaboration, 3.) Effective decision making, 4.) Appropriate staffing, 5.) Meaningful recognition, and 6.) Authentic leadership1. This NGRN TTP program incorporates an educational design and structure embedding these standards. Professional growth and development, through leadership, ensures meaningful NGRN experiential learnings. This is evidenced throughout patient care, supporting strong teamwork, effective communication, quality outcomes, and fostering a culture which enhances healthy relationships1,2.
Beginning with New Nurse Orientation (NNO), AACN Standards 1, 2, and 3 are incorporated utilizing TeamSTEPPS and Professional Practice Model, Mission, Vision, and Core Values5. Reinforcing these Standards is enhanced by the inclusion of the American Nurses Association (ANA) Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice and Nursing Code of Ethics during weekly reflections, incremental goals, and professional development sessions.
Nursing leaders, nursing professional development (NPD) practitioners, and clinical preceptors are mentored to incorporate AACN Standard 4 by matching individual NGRN patient assignment to individual competency with appropriate patient load, patient dynamics, and weekly incremental goals throughout the precepted phase of their journey. Meaningful recognition (Standard 5) is integrated into the program through peer feedback, on the spot recognition, debriefing, formalized mentorship summit, commencement, and NGRN celebration. NGRNs are recognized for the value of work they bring to the quality care of their patients and support of our organization’s mission and vision.
Nursing Leaders embrace the six healthy work environment standards which contributes to a compassionate, welcoming, and safe high-quality environment for NGRNs to enhance skills, improve self-confidence, and professional development (Standard 6)5. At the completion of the NGRN TTP program, formalized evaluative post program surveys are conducted to determine the effectiveness of AACN healthy work environment standards implementation and outcomes.
The New Graduate RN transition to practice program is an ideal educational structure to embed the six AACN HWE standards and guides leaders in the design of programmatic elements to ensure our new graduate nurses first patient encounters, interactions, and impressions foster both their professional development, personal growth, and support the establishment of lasting healthy relationships.
Description
This program will highlight the adaptation and application of the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN) Healthy Work Environment (HWE) Standards into New Graduate RN (NGRN) Transition to Practice (TTP) Program for a large multi-site healthcare system.