Dissertation
Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program outcomes reporting
University of Iowa
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
Autumn 2021
DOI: 10.17077/etd.006245
Abstract
Objectives: Graduate nurses employed in their first job face many obstacles, including a gap between their educational preparation and the expectations for nursing acutely ill, highly complex patients. Hospitals have recognized this, and many have implemented Nurse Residency Programs (NRPs) to support nurses during this challenging transition. However, outcomes of NRPs have not been reported in a meaningful, standardized way. In this study, a standardized outcomes prototype was developed for one type of NRP. The aims of this study were to identify which outcome variables are essential in a standardized outcomes prototype, assess the usability, then identify facilitators and barriers of utilizing a standardized outcomes prototype within IONRP healthcare organizations.Participants: IONRP coordinators across the country were recruited using the total population sampling method. Seventy-eight IONRP coordinators who coordinated graduate nurses currently or recently enrolled in the IONRP were invited to participate.
Methods: Participants completed an investigator-developed survey to identify which of 12 outcomes variables were essential for inclusion in a standardized IONRP outcomes prototype. Twelve outcome variables included: tracking the outcomes of one cohort during the program, comparing outcomes among cohorts in the same organization, benchmarking outcomes among other organizations, turnover rates, intent to leave, organizational commitment, skills and procedures, professional comfort, support, satisfaction, safe practices, and competency. A standardized prototype was created and delivered to the IONRP coordinators based on survey findings. Next, interviews were conducted with participants to assess the usability, facilitators, and barriers of using the standardized IONRP outcomes prototype.
Findings: Among 17 participants who completed the survey, all but one of the 12 outcomes were identified as essential for inclusion in a standardized IONRP outcomes prototype. Participants consistently ranked the outcomes of competency, professional comfort, and support in the top three. When follow-up interviews were completed, six IONRP coordinators discussed use of the prototype to better understand the impacts of the IONRP for both graduate nurses and healthcare organizations. Additionally, barriers to interpreting and distributing the standardized IONRP outcomes prototype were discussed twice as often as facilitators.
Conclusions: IONRP coordinators prioritized a set of outcomes leading to the creation of a consistent, standard IONRP outcomes prototype developed through the consensus of program experts. Although barriers to interpreting and distributing the prototype were identified, IONRP coordinators reported use of the prototype to share and discuss outcomes of the IONRP within their organization.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program outcomes reporting
- Creators
- Katie Knox
- Contributors
- Sandra Daack-Hirsch (Advisor)Amany Farag (Committee Member)Patricia Groves (Committee Member)Lisa Segre (Committee Member)Anita Stineman (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Nursing
- Date degree season
- Autumn 2021
- DOI
- 10.17077/etd.006245
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- x, 106 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2021 Katie Knox
- Language
- English
- Description illustrations
- color illustrations
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (pages 63-74)
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Nurses employed in their first job face many obstacles. One obstacle is a gap between using what they have learned during their education and the real-world expectations of practicing as a nurse in caring for acutely ill and highly complex patients in the hospital. Healthcare organizations have recognized this challenge and have committed time and money to implementing Nurse Residency Programs (NRPs) to assist nurses in bridging the gap between their education and practice. However, outcomes of NRPs have not been reported in a standardized way that meaningfully evaluates NRP outcomes for both the nurse and the healthcare organization.
This research identifies a specific set of standardized outcomes that tell a story regarding the impact of one type of NRP, the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP), for both the new nurse and the healthcare organization. Seventeen IONRP coordinators completed a survey to identify outcomes that were most important for inclusion in a standardized outcomes prototype. Next, reports were built using those identified outcomes and delivered to the IONRP coordinators. Six IONRP coordinators completed a follow-up survey to discuss the use of the standardized prototype and identify facilitators and barriers to using the prototype in their organization.
IONRP coordinators prioritized a set of outcomes leading to the creation of a consistent, standard IONRP outcomes prototype developed through the consensus of program experts. Although barriers to interpreting and distributing the prototype were identified, IONRP coordinators reported use of the prototype to share and discuss outcomes of the IONRP within their organization.
- Academic Unit
- Nursing
- Record Identifier
- 9984210640902771
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