ENDA Abstracts book Enda Abstract book 16_07_2017_1 | Page 32

Hrund Thorsteinsson Director Landspitali - University Hospital ReykjavikIS [email protected] Assistant Director Gyda Baldursdottir Medical Division Landspitali - University Hospital Reykjavik IS [email protected] OFF TO A GOOD START: RESIDENCY PROGRAM FOR NEWLY QUALIFIED NURSES AT A UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Background: A nine month residency program has been offered to newly qualified nurses at the university hospital in Reykjavík since the fall of 2014. The purpose of this program is primarily to enhance patient safety, improve nursing care and make new nurses able to face the challenges of the nursing profession sooner, as well as increase job satisfaction and retention. The program: The residency program runs over nine months, from October to May each year, finishing off around May 12th. On average, every two weeks the nurses are offered a paid study day, all in all 16 days. Care is taken that the educational content offered is an addition to what they studied during nursing school, and is related to the work environment at the hospital. Teaching methods that encourage student participation and communication are primarily used. The focus of the study days are: acute clinical care, evidence-based practice and clinical guidelines, practical information, inter-professional communication and collaboration, innovation and leadership in nursing. They also participate in group-coaching/support five times over the course of the program. Program evaluation: The participants evaluate each study day, and the program as a whole at the end. The program is also evaluated by nurse-managers. Changes have been made to the residency program based on the evaluation as needed. Impact on job satisfaction and retention have not been systematically measured. Implications: A residency program for newly qualified nurses can be empowering, and can speed the integration of new nurses into the nurse's role. Keywords: Newly qualified nurses, residency program, empowerment, continuing education Congress Topics: Connecting, Sharing and Learning in Nursing 30 |