Active Learning for Nurse Residents

Background: The University of Utah Hospital is developing a transition-to-practice program for their new graduate nurses (NGNs) entering practice. This program comes after the COVID-19 pandemic, which has challenged hospitals nationwide with the retention of experienced employees. These NGNs are entering the workforce with significantly less patient care experience than those pre-pandemic. The program seeks to bridge the knowledge gap for these new-to-practice nurses. Methods: This project consisted of two phases: the first entailed a Needs Assessment with the Intensive Care Units managers and educators to evaluate the current situation and identify areas of improvement. The second phase involved the development of a high-fidelity simulation involving a decompensating patient for the nurse residents to learn in a safe, controlled environment. Results: Approximately 33% of the survey respondents completed the survey. Several takeaways were identified upon analysis: less clinical time in school has resulted in less proficient nurses upon entry to the workforce, most educators perceive the new graduates can process work-related emotional stress appropriately, and inconsistent onboarding processes on the inpatient units. The second phase was not implemented during the timeframe of this project but has been turned over to the Nursing Education Department for future use in the nurse residency program. It has been reviewed by outside nurse educators to add validity for its use in NGN learning. Conclusions: Adapting to educating nurses in a post-pandemic environment comes with new challenges that must be overcome. Adopting technology in educational environments to create realistic scenarios that relate to experiences that nurses will see at the bedside will be most helpful. Lastly, open lines of communication between the inpatient units and the nursing education department to review and adjust educational content based on feedback from the units and the nurses are most beneficial for maintaining the optimal educational environment.