The Nurse Residency Program™ is designed to facilitate successful transition into professional practice for the new graduate RN with less than one year of professional nursing experience.

Newly licensed RNs will participate in this program, which will be tailored to the behavioral health specialty. The Nurse Resident will be supported by the Unit-Based Manager, Educator, Nurse Residency Program Coordinator, and Unit-Based Preceptors trained to help the employee develop core content in three areas: professional/personal development, leadership, and patient safety outcomes.

The Nurse Resident, under the direct supervision of the Unit Manager and in collaboration with the Nurse Residency Program Coordinator, Educator, and his/her/their Preceptor, is responsible for the provision of nursing care to assigned patients in accordance with current SP Standards of Care:

• Administers and monitors patient response to therapeutic interventions.
• Demonstrates knowledge and application of the nursing process as it relates to patients and families.
• Accountable for professional nursing practice.
• Collaborates with health team members and patients/families in the provision of care.
• Applies theoretical concepts at the bedside; improves critical thinking and reasoning skills; delegates to and provides direct supervision to other health team members as appropriate in the implementation of the patient care plan; acts as an advocate for patients/families/significant others; and practices within accepted ethical and legal parameters of nursing.
• Actively engages with the inter-professional team in decision making and communication; adheres to system and department compliance policies, and any and all applicable laws and regulations; performs all competency-based duties as assigned.

The Unit Manager, in collaboration with the Nurse Residency Program Coordinator, Educator, and his/her/their Preceptor, is responsible for ensuring that the Nurse Resident consistently meets the necessary performance expectations associated with the unit-based competency education training and Nurse Residency Program curriculum. This program will require the Nurse Resident’s commitment to participate in all scheduled monthly educational sessions and data collection. Upon successfully completing the program, the Nurse Resident will be promoted to a Staff Nurse on the unit. Successful completion includes demonstration of completing the following: unit-based competency-based orientation, evidence-based practice project, professional portfolio and NRP survey, and hospital performance evaluation tools. The Nurse Resident will remain in the hired position on the unit for a minimum of two years. In rare circumstances it is the right of SP (HR, Manager, Program coordinator) to make changes if someone should need to be switched. Continued employment will be contingent upon successful completion of the unit-based competencies and Nurse Residency Program. Failure to successfully complete the unit-based competencies and/or Nurse Residency Program will result in corrective action up to/or including termination.

Responsibilities:

The six Standards of Practice describe a competent level of nursing care as demonstrated by the

critical thinking model known as the nursing process. The nursing process includes the components of assessment, diagnosis, outcomes identification, planning, implementation, and evaluation.

The nursing process encompasses all significant actions taken by registered nurses, and forms the foundation of the nurse’s decision making (ANA Standards of Nursing Practice, 2021).

1. Standard 1. Assessment: The Nurse Resident collects comprehensive data pertinent to the patient’s health or situation.
2. Standard 2. Diagnosis: The Nurse Resident analyzes the assessment data to determine the diagnosis or issues.
3. Standard 3. Outcomes identification: The Nurse Resident identifies expected outcomes for a plan individualized to the patient or the situation.
4. Standard 4. Planning: The Nurse Resident develops a plan that prescribes strategies and alternatives to attain the expected outcomes.
5. Standard 5. Implementation: The Nurse Resident implements the identified plan, coordinates care delivery, and employs strategies to promote health and a healthy environment.
6. Standard 6. Evaluation: The Nurse Resident evaluates progress toward attainment of the expected outcomes.
7. The Nurse Resident manages nurse–patient/family relationships, which may involve advocacy, comfort, cultural competence and sensitivity, therapeutic communication, education, and healthcare transition management.
8. The Nurse Resident

• Actively and successfully participates in hospital-wide and unit/service-based orientation.
• Participates and contributes to hospital initiatives, policy, practice, and procedure at unit meetings.
• Incorporates into practice the shared governance structure at Sheppard Pratt.
• Completes performance evaluation tools, Competency-Based Orientation (CBO), and evidence-based project.
• Promotes to Staff Nurse after successful completion of the Nurse Residency Program.

1. The registered nurse meets all clinical practice/safety and quality standards.
2. Participates in all Nurse Residency Program education sessions that will assist the Nurse Resident:

• Uses effective decision-making skills; incorporates research-based evidence into practice, strengthening professional commitment to nursing; formulates an individual development plan with the Nurse Residency Program Coordinator.
• Attends all scheduled Nurse Residency Program educational activities: monthly seminars, learning opportunities and works within the assigned NRP guidelines for attendance and participation.
• Completes Professional Portfolio, performance evaluation tools, outcomes measures (AACN/Vizient NRP data collection), and evidence-based project.

Requirements:

1. New Graduate in Nursing that has successfully passed Board of Registration in Nursing Examination and is licensed in Maryland.
2. Work requires knowledge of nursing theory, principles, and practice and basic computer usage skills - acquired through graduation from an accredited program of nursing. Must have AHA approved Basic Life Support/CPR certification for healthcare workers at time of hire and throughout employment.
3. Work requires possession of a current license as a Registered Nurse in the State of Maryland at the time of appointment and continuously throughout tenure in position. Maintains professional knowledge and skills through attendance at professional meetings, workshops, courses, and in-service sessions.
4. Position requires analytical ability and sound nursing knowledge for the effective formulation of nursing care plans, implementation of care, and appropriate documentation of pertinent information regarding patient's condition. Individual must be able to identify the need for assistance/supervision and seek out appropriate resources.
5. Work requires interpersonal skills to interact effectively with children, adolescent, and adult psychiatrically ill patients in order to gain their cooperation, allay apprehensions and provide effective health teaching to patients and family members (51-80% of work time).
6. Work requires talking, moderate hearing, mid-range vision and field of vision.
7. In keeping with the Maryland Board of Nursing guidelines, all nurses must have an active Maryland nursing license to practice in the state of Maryland, or must have an active license in a compact state that allows them to practice in Maryland, if they reside in that compact state. A multistate licensee who changes primary state of residence to another party state shall apply for a multistate license in the new party state within 60 days. The rule requires that a nurse apply for a new license in a new primary state of residence within 60 days of relocating, it does not require the new license be issued withing 60 days.