Abstract

Current literature supports the creation and implementation of nurse residency programs to support new graduate nurses as they transition into nursing practice. Additionally, nurse residency programs have been shown to increase nurse satisfaction and retention (Crimlisk et al., 2017; Olson-Sitki et al., 2012). Currently, there are only three nurse residency programs in the state of Alabama. The lack of this important post-licensure resource poses a problem for new graduate nurses who are seeking additional assistance and guidance during the transition to professional practice.

This qualitative study examined the decision-making process of hospital leaders in the implementation of the nurse residency program at their facility. This study also explored factors that impacted hospital leaders' decision to implement a nurse residency program. This study found a relationship between the decision to implement a nurse residency program and the desire to increase nursing development in the facilities. The benefits that were identified included building a solid foundation, recruitment and retention, and building relationships. Other factors that influenced the hospital leaders' decision to implement the nurse residency programs were demand and excessive turnover of staff. In addition, multiple barriers such as logistics, manager buy-in, and curriculum development were identified by the hospital leaders as potential barriers to implementation. This study will also be able to help hospital leaders who are struggling with the decision to implement nurse residency programs in their facilities.

Description

This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 28322245; ProQuest document ID: 2544835809. The author still retains copyright.

Author Details

Miranda M. Smith, EdD, MSN, RN, Clinical Instructor

Sigma Membership

Beta Phi

Lead Author Affiliation

The University of Alabama in Huntsville, Huntsville, Alabama, USA

Type

Dissertation

Format Type

Text-based Document

Study Design/Type

Descriptive/Correlational

Research Approach

Qualitative Research

Keywords:

Apprenticeships, Hospital Administrators, Internships, Nurse Residency Program, Transition to Practice

Advisor

Joann S. Oliver

Second Advisor

Stephen Tomlinson

Third Advisor

Paige T. Johnson

Fourth Advisor

Becky M. Atkinson

Degree

Doctoral-Other

Degree Grantor

The University of Alabama

Degree Year

2021

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

None: Degree-based Submission

Acquisition

Proxy-submission

Date of Issue

2021-07-01

Full Text of Presentation

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