Evaluation of an Emergency Department (ED) New Graduate Program to Support Transition to Practice
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Marie Williams Dawkins (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Crystal Epstein
Abstract: Objective. The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a 16-week emergency nursing new graduate program by measuring new nurses' readiness to transition from orientation to working independently as an emergency department (ED) nurse.Theoretical Model. Stages of Transition TheorySetting. The new graduates were from one of three EDs, within one hospital system. The main hospital has 350 beds with 40 ED beds and operates as a referral hospital. The other two hospitals are smaller, one with 22 ED beds and one with 15 ED beds. Each see a mix-population of adults and pediatrics. This hospital system is public, not-for-profit located in rural North Carolina serving seven counties.Participants. ED new graduates hired into one of three EDs for the summer of 2021 participated in the new graduate program. In addition, ED leadership was involved in teaching, supporting, and maintaining accountability for the program. Others involved in teaching were ED providers, stroke coordinator, representative from organ donor group, representative from intravenous catheter & pump vendor, and other specialty unit educators.Methods. The Casey-Fink survey was used to measure readiness to practice. Initial survey was conducted during their first week and a post-survey was completed 16 weeks later during their last week of orientation. The program consisted of weekly classes held with the ED educator and other experts. Each class was a specific topic related to emergency nursing and contained both didactic and hands-on learning. In addition to the classes, the new graduates worked 3 shifts per week with a dedicated preceptor.Outcomes. The initial survey showed new graduates were uncomfortable performing a variety of skills, communication with providers and patient teaching. In the post-survey they were more nervous about more high-level tasks such as time management. After completing orientation, new nurses felt more prepared to complete job responsibilities, more supported by co-workers and leadership, more confident in organizing and prioritizing and more confident in communicating. Professional satisfaction increased as well. Overall, 93% of new nurses felt prepared to transition to independent practice at the end of orientation.Implications. The new graduate program is essential for onboarding new nurses into the ED. Having classroom time in addition to the clinical orientation allowed for a smooth transition. There is a strong recommendation for establishing a standardized program for all new graduates, in addition to having an established support system.
Evaluation of an Emergency Department (ED) New Graduate Program to Support Transition to Practice
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Created on 2/20/2023
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Dissertation
- Language: English
- Date: 2022
- Keywords
- New Graduate Program, Emergency Department New Graduates, Nurse Residency Program