Other Titles
PechaKucha Presentation
Abstract
Over the last decade, many employers internationally have addressed the transition issues new nursing graduates experience by providing formal 6 to 12 month nurse residency programs to reduce stress, foster workforce integration and competency, and decrease nurse turnover. The increasing international demand for nurses, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, further underscores the need for structured support systems to help new nurses navigate their transition into practice.
Our research aim is to (a) determine whether participation in a 6-month structured and formalized Nurse Residency Program (NRP) impacts nurse residents’ stress, competence, and confidence integrating into the registered nurse role; (b) understand the experiences contributing to their clinical competency during the transition to the professional nursing practice role.
The purpose of this presentation is to (a) showcase the evidence-based components of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (2024) Nurse Residency Program and (b) explain the longitudinal evaluation research.
This mixed-method study examines the impact of the NRP on new graduate transition. Using a longitudinal, cross-sectional correlational survey design, we examine the impact of a residency program on nurse residents’ clinical competence, levels and underlying causes of stress, and retention as professional nurses. Using a qualitative description approach, interviews and focus groups are used to advance our understanding and interpretation of the complex social interactions that exist in the everyday world of the newly graduated nurse, influencing and impacting on their professional role transition experience. Data is being collected from a national population sample of 300 Nurse Residents enrolled by their employers in the NRP, preceptor-mentors providing integration support, and managers supervising the nurse residents.
We contend that the introduction of a national residency program for new nurses in Canada, along with research evidence supporting the value of such programs, offers a much-needed solution to the current nursing retention crisis. This research provides further evidence of the need for programs to address these transition challenges and promote competency integration of new graduates to flourish in the profession to meet global health human resource demands.
Notes
References:
Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing. (2024). Residency Program. https://cnei-icie.casn.ca/our-programs/residency-program/
Sigma Membership
Xi Theta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Cross-Sectional
Research Approach
Mixed/Multi Method Research
Keywords:
Transition to Practice or Onboarding, Mentoring and Coaching, Competence, Novice Nurses, Nursing Residency Program, Canada
Recommended Citation
Wolff, Angela C.; Boychuk Duchscher, Judy; Charette, Marin; and Jacob, Jean-Daniel, "From Research to Practice: The Development and Evaluation of a National Nurse Residency Program" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 170.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/170
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
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.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
From Research to Practice: The Development and Evaluation of a National Nurse Residency Program
Seattle, Washington, USA
Over the last decade, many employers internationally have addressed the transition issues new nursing graduates experience by providing formal 6 to 12 month nurse residency programs to reduce stress, foster workforce integration and competency, and decrease nurse turnover. The increasing international demand for nurses, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic, further underscores the need for structured support systems to help new nurses navigate their transition into practice.
Our research aim is to (a) determine whether participation in a 6-month structured and formalized Nurse Residency Program (NRP) impacts nurse residents’ stress, competence, and confidence integrating into the registered nurse role; (b) understand the experiences contributing to their clinical competency during the transition to the professional nursing practice role.
The purpose of this presentation is to (a) showcase the evidence-based components of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing (2024) Nurse Residency Program and (b) explain the longitudinal evaluation research.
This mixed-method study examines the impact of the NRP on new graduate transition. Using a longitudinal, cross-sectional correlational survey design, we examine the impact of a residency program on nurse residents’ clinical competence, levels and underlying causes of stress, and retention as professional nurses. Using a qualitative description approach, interviews and focus groups are used to advance our understanding and interpretation of the complex social interactions that exist in the everyday world of the newly graduated nurse, influencing and impacting on their professional role transition experience. Data is being collected from a national population sample of 300 Nurse Residents enrolled by their employers in the NRP, preceptor-mentors providing integration support, and managers supervising the nurse residents.
We contend that the introduction of a national residency program for new nurses in Canada, along with research evidence supporting the value of such programs, offers a much-needed solution to the current nursing retention crisis. This research provides further evidence of the need for programs to address these transition challenges and promote competency integration of new graduates to flourish in the profession to meet global health human resource demands.
Description
The purpose of this presentation is to (a) showcase the evidence-based components of the Canadian Association of Schools of Nursing Nurse Residency Program (NRP) and (b) explain the longitudinal evaluation research. This mixed-method study examines the impact of the NRP to support new graduate transition (e.g., stress, clinical competency, and confidence) to the nurse role and foster retention.