Nurse residency programs

Evidence Rating  
Evidence rating: Some Evidence

Strategies with this rating are likely to work, but further research is needed to confirm effects. These strategies have been tested more than once and results trend positive overall.

Health Factors  
Decision Makers
Date last updated

Nurse residency programs are intended to ease the transition from nursing student to practicing nurse, similar to the first year of a physician residency program1. Programs vary in design and length, but often include an orientation period, a relationship with a more experienced nurse serving as a mentor or preceptor, and guided practice toward independence2.

What could this strategy improve?

Expected Benefits

Our evidence rating is based on the likelihood of achieving these outcomes:

  • Increased nurse retention

  • Increased job satisfaction

  • Increased job skills

Potential Benefits

Our evidence rating is not based on these outcomes, but these benefits may also be possible:

  • Reduced stress

What does the research say about effectiveness?

There is some evidence that nurse residency programs increase retention, job satisfaction1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and nursing skills among newly licensed nurses2, 3, 4, 7. Additional evidence is needed to confirm effects and determine which elements of residency programs are most effective8.

Residency programs appear to improve retention in pediatric hospitals9, religiously affiliated hospitals10, and hospitals with Magnet status11. Nurse residency programs may also reduce stress and anxiety for new nurses3, 4. Programs may increase nursing knowledge and skills in both urban and rural areas7, though new nurses in rural residency programs report lower levels of stress and greater job satisfaction than peers in urban areas7. Nurse residency programs may also improve nurses’ organizational commitment12 and increase participants’ clinical leadership skills over time13.

Some experts suggest that allocating appropriate resources, creating partnerships, evaluating efforts, and having a sustainability plan contribute to effective residency programs14. Securing the support of stakeholders such as deans and faculty of nursing schools, chief nursing officers, and government and philanthropic entities15, along with appointing a nurse residency coordinator, may all contribute to program success16. Mentorship in nurse residency programs may contribute to stress reduction among participants17; new nurses may continue to receive mentor support after program completion18.

Cost is often cited as a barrier to starting nurse residency programs19. However, some studies suggest that by increasing retention of new nurses, nurse residency programs avert the costs of hiring replacement nurses20, 21, 22.

How could this strategy impact health disparities? This strategy is rated no impact on disparities likely.
Implementation Examples

Nurse residency programs are increasingly common across the country; one study estimates that over one-third of U.S. hospitals had programs in place as of 201119. As of 2022, 40 nurse residency programs have been accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), including 16 programs at U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) medical centers23. The University of Colorado Hospital’s Post-Baccalaureate Nurse Residency Program was the first program to receive CCNE accreditation in 200923.

Hospitals and health systems may develop their own programs or purchase the rights to use established nurse residency training systems, such as Versant New Graduate RN Residency24. As of 2021, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) and Vizient Performance Management operate the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program, with year-long residencies at over 600 hospitals and health systems across the country25.

Implementation Resources

CNHS-TPP - Children’s National Health System (CNHS). Pediatric Nurse Residency Program/Transition to Practice Program (TPP).

Footnotes

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1 Rosenfeld 2016 - Rosenfeld P, Glassman K. The long-term effect of a nurse residency program, 2005-2012: Analysis of former nurse residents. Journal of Nursing Administration. 2016;46(6):336-344.

2 Al-Dossary 2014 - AL-Dossary R, Kitsantas P, Maddox PJ. The impact of residency programs on new nurse graduates’ clinical decision-making and leadership skills: A systematic review. Nurse Education Today. 2014;34(6):1024-1028.

3 Edwards 2015 - Edwards D, Hawker C, Carrier J, Rees C. A systematic review of the effectiveness of strategies and interventions to improve the transition from student to newly qualified nurse. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2015;52(7):1254-1268.

4 Letourneau 2015 - Letourneau RM, Fater KH. Nurse residency programs: An integrative review of the literature. Nursing Education Perspectives. 2015;36(2):96-101.

5 Harrison 2014 - Harrison D, Ledbetter C. Nurse residency programs: Outcome comparisons to best practices. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. 2014;30(2):76-82.

6 IOM-Nursing 2011 - Institute of Medicine (IOM). The future of nursing: Leading change, advancing health. Washington, D.C.: National Academies Press; 2011.

7 Bratt 2014 - Bratt MM, Baernholdt M, Pruszynski J. Are rural and urban newly licensed nurses different? A longitudinal study of a nurse residency programme. Journal of Nursing Management. 2014;22(6):779-791.

8 Anderson 2012 - Anderson G, Hair C, Todero C. Nurse residency programs: An evidence-based review of theory, process, and outcomes. Journal of Professional Nursing. 2012;28(4):203-12.

9 Hillman 2011 - Hillman L, Foster RR. The impact of a nursing transitions programme on retention and cost savings. Journal of Nursing Management. 2011;19(1):50-56.

10 Pine 2007 - Pine R, Tart K. Return on investment: Benefits and challenges of baccalaureate nurse residency program. Nursing Economics. 2007;25(1):13-18.

11 Goode 2013 - Goode CJ, Lynn MR, McElroy D, Bednash GD, Murray B. Lessons learned from 10 Years of research on a post-baccalaureate nurse residency program. Journal of Nursing Administration. 2013;43(2):73-79.

12 Bratt 2012 - Bratt MM, Felzer HM. Predictors of new graduate nurses’ organizational commitment during a nurse residency program. Journal for Nurses in Staff Development. 2012;28(3):108-119.

13 Chappell 2015 - Chappell KB, Richards KC. New graduate nurses, new graduate nurse transition programs, and clinical leadership skill: A systematic review. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. 2015;31(3):128-137.

14 Bratt 2013 - Bratt MM. Nurse residency program: Best practices for optimizing organizational success. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. 2013;29(3):102-110.

15 Goode 2016 - Goode CJ, Reid Ponte P, Sullivan Havens D. Residency for transition into practice: An essential requirement for new graduates from basic RN programs. JONA: The Journal of Nursing Administration. 2016;46(2):82-86.

16 Greene 2016 - Greene MA, Warren JI, Perkins S. Transforming nursing organizations through implementation of nurse residency programs. Journal for Nurses in Professional Development. 2016;32(5):267-268.

17 Rush 2013 - Rush KL, Adamack M, Gordon J, Lilly M, Janke R. Best practices of formal new graduate nurse transition programs: An integrative review. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2013;50(3):345-356.

18 Pasila 2017 - Pasila K, Elo S, Kääriäinen M. Newly graduated nurses’ orientation experiences: A systematic review of qualitative studies. International Journal of Nursing Studies. 2017;71:17-27.

19 Pittman 2013 - Pittman P, Herrera C, Bass E, Thompson P. Residency programs for new nurse graduates: How widespread are they and what are the primary obstacles to further adoption? The Journal of Nursing Administration. 2013;43(11):597-602.

20 Cochran 2017 - Cochran C. Effectiveness and best practice of nurse residency programs: A literature review. MEDSURG Nursing. 2017;26(1):53-63.

21 Trepanier 2017 - Trepanier S, Mainous R, Africa L, Shinners J. Nursing academic-practice partnership: The effectiveness of implementing an early residency program for nursing students. Nurse Leader. 2017;15(1):35-39.

22 Kram 2016 - Kram SL, Wilson J. Nurse residency program attracts and retains novice nurses. Nursing. 2016;46(2):15-16.

23 CCNE-ANRP - American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). CCNE accredited nurse residency programs.

24 Versant - Versant. Versant new graduate RN residency.

25 Vizient-AACN-NRP - American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN). Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program (NRP).