Standardized Curricula

2008 House of Delegates Resolution: In Support of National Standardized Curricula for Nurse Residency Programs

The 2006 National Student Nurses' Association (NSNA) House of Delegates supported (p. 1) increased advocacy for improved preceptor programs to create a robust workforce environment within the nursing profession.
A preceptor, one component of a nurse residency program, provides a period of practical experience and training supervised by a specialist in a particular field.
Nurses convey an increasing amount of confidence, competence, and mastery of their jobs upon completion of nurse residency programs, as well as feelings of improvement in their ability to organize and prioritize care.
Published hospital reports cite a noticeable increase in retention rates for new graduates who attend nurse residency programs (Sumner & Cornett, 2007; Thrall, 2007.)
Negative perceptions of first job experiences may cause nurses to leave their positions, increasing the nursing shortage, and wasting recruitment and retention resources (Bowles & Candela, 2005.)
Some nurse residency programs consist solely of a standardized curriculum and preceptorship, while other residency programs also include separate mentorships, peer-support components, and educational classes (Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2005; Sumner & Cornett, 2007.)

What Can Nursing Students Do?

Encourage members in NSNA school chapters and state chapters/associations to support the development of national standardized curricula for nurse residency programs;
Stay engaged as nursing students as proposed curricula changes supporting Nurse Residency Programs evolve in your state Attend NSNA Convention and MidYear Conference programs on Nurse Residency Programs, read and submit articles in Imprint, and encourage faculty to read articles in Dean’s Notes on evidence-based Nurse Residency Programs;
Encourage faculty members to collaborate with hospital nurse managers to develop standardized curricula for nurse residency programs.

Resources:

Mentoring tomorrow’s nursing leaders through involvement in curriculum development and shared responsibility in quality outcomes, NSNA Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities and Guidelines for Planning: Shared Governance

Bowles, C., & Candela, L. (2005). First job experiences of recent RN graduates. Journal of Nursing Administration, 35(3).

National Council of State Boards of Nursing (2008). Literature review, Transition to practice regulatory model: The evidence.

Sumner, J. & Cornett, P. (2007). RN residency: Seeking a new paradigm. Patient Safety & Quality Healthcare, March/April.

Ulrich, B., Krozek, C. & Reinsvold, S. (2009). RN residencies for new graduates. Imprint, 56 (1), 25-29;