Title : Evaluating the effectiveness of resilience education in transition to practice programs for new graduate nurses
Abstract:
Purpose: This study evaluates the effectiveness of the resilience education built into the Transition to Practice Program (TTP).
Research Question: Does prioritizing wellness in a TTP build a resilient New Graduate Nurse (NGN)?
Background: Fontanie et. al., (2021) define resilience as an individual’s ability to overcome and rebound from adversity. NGN are rapidly entering the workforce ill-prepared for the stressful environments (Fontaine et.al., 2021). Within the first year, approximately 23.8% of these NGN will leave the profession (National Healthcare Retention & RN Staffing Report, 2024). TTP aid NGN in their transition from student to professional (Fontaine et. al., 2021.) A desired outcome of TTP is an increase in NGN resiliency. When met with transition challenges, it’s key for NGN to develop resiliency to healthily continue in nursing practice. TTP aids in fostering resiliency through support, cohort interactions, and wellness initiatives. As the NGN becomes more resilient, it is anticipated retention rates will improve and staffing within facilities will stabilize.
Methodology: The study design is a retrospective mixed method in a multi-site hospital setting in a Southern US state. A total of 1438 nurses were surveyed from a larger sample size of 1939 NGN onboarded from July 2022 through April 2024 with a 54% return rate. All NGN were polled at 6 and 12 months of employment using a revised Casey Fink graduate nurse experience survey. In addition, all 1939 were polled monthly about their wellness using an internal, selfevaluation tool.
Results: The results demonstrated a mix of effectiveness. The data shows 51.48% of returned surveys were answered showing signs of not coping with stress. This stress often leads to NGN leaving the system or nursing altogether. Shifting the focus of wellness initiatives is imperative to build resiliency.
Practice Implications: Operationalization of wellness strategies is necessary to build a foundation of resilience among NGN. As hospitals increasingly need to hire NGN to fill their vacancies, dedication must be paid to improving their mental well-being to prevent burnout and improve job satisfaction alongside retention. Ultimately, NGN individual ownership of professional growth and wellness is key to the development of resiliency.
