Nurse practitioner residency programs and transition to practice

The role of a nurse practitioner (NP) is evolving and continues to change with the evolution of health care and increasing complexity of the patient population. With NPs now providing approximately 20% of primary care in the United States, it is evident that the role is expanding and has a vital position in health care.2 With an increase in the number of NPs and demand for their expertise, it is important to explore whether NPs feel prepared for the demanding expectations and increasing complexities of role responsibilities. One strategy to address the question about role transition for novice NPs is the creation of NP residency programs. NP residencies offer an extra postgraduate experience to newly licensed NPs to include hands on training andmentorship inorder toease the transition fromgraduate school into professional practice. As NP residencies gain momentum and popularity in the United States, it has become clear that there is no standardized framework for these programs. Challenges related to such programs include title, content, funding, preceptors, and perceptions of readiness to practice. The development of NP residencies has sparked controversy as well. Educational programs as well as some experienced NPs feel that residency programs undermine the rigorous educational preparation required to become a certified NP, and requiring additional training implies that NPs are not prepared to practice.2 With a lack of NP residency program research related to need, structure, curriculum, and patient outcomes, it is apparent that these programsneed further investigation. Thegoal of this study is to explore the perceptions of practicing NPs who have already experienced transition intopractice regarding theneedandnecessary content for anNP residency program. The data collected may also help clarifying what components practicing NPs identify as necessary for a residency curriculum inorder to ensure successful transition, improve retention, and continue to provide high-quality patient-centered care. The research questions for this study are “What are the perceptions of practicing NPs regardingNP residency programs as a strategy for transitioning to practice?” and “What content do practicing NPs identify as important in a successful NP residency program?” The purpose of this article is to describe the perceptions of need for additional training for novice NPs andwhat content should be included in a program to ensure successful transition to practice.