Transition to Practice Nurse Residency Program

The program includes didactic (classroom) and simulated (lab) learning combined with hands-on training in the clinical practice environment. The Transition to Practice curriculum is based on the latest evidence and supports our Journey of Excellence and Magnet Re-Designation. You will benefit from these and other experiences:

• Dedicated classroom instruction
• Hands-on skill training
• Patient simulation activities
• Professional development content

The program also helps you create a supportive social network. A strong social and professional network fosters the following:

• A sense of community
• Lifelong learning and professional development
• Resiliency
• Support

Throughout the program, you are challenged to know, own and practice these and other responsibilities:

• Peer feedback
• Reflection
• Self-direction
• Self-management

We measure the success of the Transition to Practice program by setting and assessing goals in four key areas.

1. Nursing Professional Development

Goal: 90% of the nurse residents present an evidence-based case review during their residency. 
New England Baptist Hospital Outcome: 100% completed

2. Practice-Based Knowledge, Skills and Attitudes

Goal: 90% of the nurse residents finish all orientation competencies by the completion of preceptor-led orientation. 
New England Baptist Hospital Outcome: 100% completed

3. Casey Fink Readiness to Practice Survey

Goal: At least 90% of nurse residents, using the Casey Fink Readiness to Practice Survey, report an increase in readiness to practice at the completion of preceptor-led orientation. 
New England Baptist Hospital Outcome: 100% reported increase

4. Staffing Retention

Goal: 90% year-one retention rate of nurse residents who entered into the program between November 2020 and January 2021. 
New England Baptist Hospital Outcome: 89% year-one retention rate

To apply to the program, you must:

• Have graduated from an accredited school of nursing program.
• Have a Massachusetts RN license prior to your employment start date.
• Have less than one year of nursing work experience. If you attended nursing school outside the United States, you must have less than one year of nursing work experience in the United States. 

You will be paired with a preceptor on your unit. The preceptor will provide the education, clinical experiences and professional development you need to develop safe, competent and professional nursing care.

In addition, you’ll meet monthly for nine months. During this time, you are engaged in multiple types of activities:

• Critical thinking exercises
• Group problem-solving activities
• Hands-on skill practice
• Simulation

These activities help you develop the communication skills needed as you transition to professional nursing practice. You must successfully complete the comprehensive program.

New Employee Orientation (NEO)

You will attend an eight-hour day of New England Baptist Hospital organizational orientation. New Employee Orientation includes a warm welcome and introduction to “the Baptist Way” and our legendary service. New Employee Orientation provides information on these and other topics:

• Compliance
• Employee health
• Infection prevention and control
• Information technology (IT) security
• Quality and patient safety
• Security and environmental safety

Nursing Orientation

You also will attend four full days of nursing orientation. This consists of instruction in the following areas:

• American Nurses Association (ANA) principles and the Massachusetts RN Practice Act
• Basic arrhythmia I & II
• Citizenship
• Classroom didactic on our department, its culture, vision and values
• Communication
• Electronic medical records (EMRs) and documentation
• Emergent care
• Medication management
• Orthopedic surgery
• Pain management
• Patient education and teach-back
• Patient experience
• Quality, safety and infection prevention
• Respiratory care
• Safe patient handling
• Skin management
• Well-being
• Workplace safety

We offer an additional skills training day for those who would like to participate.

Preceptor-Led, Competency-Based Orientation & Unit-Based Orientation 

Preceptorship is at least three months. You receive training in the art and science of teaching and competency validation. Regular meetings with the unit nurse manager, clinical leader and clinical educator occur within the orientation period for these and other issues:

• Address any potential remediation
• Assess learning needs
• Evaluate progress

Professional Development

At month four, we begin a monthly, four-hour classroom session on the following topics:

• Communication and feedback
• Complications of orthopedic surgery
• Critical thinking
• Ethical decision-making, advocacy and essential elements of documentation, including risk mitigation strategies
• Fostering well-being and workplace safety
• Journey of excellence and professional governance
• Professional advancement program and mentorship
• Regulatory readiness, continuous improvement and patient experience
• Time management, delegation and prioritization

Program Completion Requirements

You will graduate from the program after successful completion of the following:

• New Employee Orientation (NEO)
• Nurse case review presentation
• Nursing orientation
• Unit/practice area competency attainment
• Professional development classroom series content