The impact of residency programs on new nurse graduates' clinical decision-making and leadership skills: A systematic review

Background: Health care institutions have adapted residency programs to help new graduate nurses to become fully competent and transition from a student nurse to an independent practicing nurse and a bedside leader. Objectives: The study's aim is to review the literature on the impact of residency programs on new graduate nurses' clinical decision-making and leadership skills. Review Methods: An electronic search was conducted between 1980 and 2013 using databases of the scientific literature in Medline, PubMed, Cochrane EPOC, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature database guide (CINAHL), and Psychlnfo using a range of keywords. Information gathered was evaluated for relevance. Results: Thirteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were used in this systematic review. In several studies considered in this review, residency programs were developed to improve new graduates skills and promote their transition into the nursing workforce. In fact, the transition programs reduced turnover in that first year of practice and promoted professional growth of the new graduate such as hand-on nursing skills, clinical decision-making and leadership skills, satisfaction, and retention. Conclusion: There is a need for effective residency programs that are designed to prepare new graduate nurses in providing safe, competent and effective patient care. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.