Impact of Residency Programs on Professional Socialization of Newly Licensed Registered Nurses

Do Nurse Residency Programs (NRPs) reflect the professional socialization process? Residency facilitators in 34 Magnet hospitals completed Residency Program Questionnaires constructed to reflect the goals, themes, components, and strategies of the professional socialization process described in the literature. NRPs in 4 hospitals exemplified the complete two-stage (role transition and role/community integration) process. In 14 hospitals, NRPs were of sufficient length and contained components that reflected the professional socialization process. In 16 hospitals, NRPs exemplified the becoming role transition stage. What components are most effective in the professional socialization of new graduate nurses? A total of 907 new and experienced nurses, nurse managers, and educators working on clinical units with confirmed healthy work environments in 20 Magnet hospitals with additional excellence designations were interviewed. Components identified as most instrumental were precepted experience, reflective seminars, skill acquisition, reflective practice sessions, evidence-based management projects, and clinical coaching-mentoring sessions. Suggestions for improvement of NRPs are offered.