Better together - nurse residency collaborative council

Abstract

<p>Hospitals across the United States are competing for top talent and newly graduated nurses<em><strong> </strong></em>want to be granted a spot in a transition to practice program (TTP). How can the needs of both the hospital and graduate nurse be met? A panel of TTP coordinators from multiple institutions within the Houston/Galveston area were invited to discuss and share about their programs at a local Association for Nursing Professional Development (ANPD) meeting. Through this interaction, the TTP coordinators recognized that they were facing similar issues and trends in their programs and desired an external support system. This recognition helped guide the development of a nurse residency collaborative initiative. The TTP coordinators from nine hospital systems were invited to meet and discuss how they could share knowledge, resources, and innovative ideas, as well as provide guidance, support and mentoring to one another. Although the institutions are competitive in seeking the best candidates, they each have unique differences that attract the new graduates. Of the nine hospital systems, four have obtained accreditation through the ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) for their nurse residency programs. Along with providing a supportive network, a list of specific discussion topics for monthly meetings was derived from an informal needs assessment. Details of how the residency collaborative initiative originated, successes from their first year and future plans will be discussed.</p>