Standardizing Nurse Transition to Practice: An Infrastructure to Support Nursing Excellence.

ABSTRACT

Nurse residency programs (NRPs) require effective structures and processes to ensure achievement of desired outcomes, including program accreditation, newly licensed nurse retention, and a healthy nursing workforce for the future. A healthcare system created strategic positions of director of nursing workforce transitions and nursing workforce professional development specialists to standardize an NRP across six hospitals and to achieve Practice Transition Accreditation Program accreditation. The positions provide a strong infrastructure to optimize nurse transition to practice.