How Accreditation Promotes a Successful Transition to Practice
By: American Nurses Association
Residency. Accreditation. Transition to Practice. Many new nurse graduates hear these words as they prepare to enter the workforce. But what does it all really mean?
In an interview with Mary Rose Papciak, Program Director of Professional Nursing Practice Innovation and Program Director for the Practice Transition Accreditation Program® (PTAP) at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (NYP), she shared the impact that the support and resources of an accredited nurse residency has had on both the nurses in the program and her organization, especially during these difficult times.
While Mary spoke of many benefits of having an accredited nurse residency program, one major theme emerged from our conversation: Support.
Having support is critical to a successful transition to practice, whether you are transitioning to the profession or to a different specialty. This support is a key element of the PTAP® framework, which fosters confidence and relationship-building. Support can come in many different forms, from in-person clinical preceptorship to virtual one-on-one meetings with program leaders. Mary and her nurse residents value the benefits of that support, now more than ever. “The new nurses have said that they’re amazed at how much support they’ve been receiving,” shared Mary, despite the limitations brought on by a global pandemic.
Having support is critical to a successful transition to practice, whether you are transitioning to the profession or to a different specialty. This support is a key element of the PTAP® framework, which fosters confidence and relationship-building. Support can come in many different forms, from in-person clinical preceptorship to virtual one-on-one meetings with program leaders. Mary and her nurse residents value the benefits of that support, now more than ever. “The new nurses have said that they’re amazed at how much support they’ve been receiving,” shared Mary, despite the limitations brought on by a global pandemic.
Download your copy of the official ANCC PTAP® manual here.
For Mary, who has experienced the positive effects of influential mentoring in her career, leading a nurse residency is “an opportunity to give back.” To her, nurse residencies aren’t just about orientation or helping nurses navigate a new work environment, they are about driving nursing practice forward and advancing nursing science.
Transitioning to practice is more than learning new skills. It is also about learning from those who have been there. One change that emerged with PTAP accreditation is the acknowledgment of the hard work and accomplishments of nurses in the program. Mary notes how much growth and awareness have increased throughout NYP since becoming accredited, emphasizing the many contributions of the new nurse graduates.
With PTAP-accredited programs, new nurses are not just acknowledged, they are also valued. PTAP is more than just an orientation or a skills check-off. It’s the beginning of a career of lifelong learning.
Interested in learning more about what ANCC Practice Transition Accreditation Program® accreditation can do for your organization? Download your complimentary copy of the official 2020 ANCC PTAP® manual here.
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