One of the Institute of Medicine's (now the National Academy of Medicine) recommendations that the Pennsylvania Action Coalition addresses is the implementation of nurse residency programs. According to the Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2011):
"Residency provides a continuing opportunity to apply important knowledge for the purpose of remaining a safe and competent provider in a continuous learning environment."
Nurse residency programs assist in preparing nurses to transition from the role of a student nurse to the role of a professional registered nurse into clinical practice. Evidence shows that completing a nurse residency program provides new nurses with the necessary skillset and knowledge to provide safe, high-quality, patient-focused care.
The Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program™ (NRP), developed by Vizient® and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, supports new graduate nurses through data-driven solutions as they enter clinical practice. The evidence-based curriculum delivers on three key areas: leadership, patient outcomes, and professional development. The NRP helps organizations obtain and maintain Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The Pennsylvania Action Coalition aims to increase the number of health care institutions with the NRP through its strategic partnership with Vizient, Inc.
The PA Nurse Residency Collaborative (PA-NRC)
The PA-NRC was established in 2016 as a partnership of the Pennsylvania Action Coalition and Vizient, Inc. to implement residency programs in Pennsylvania and to provide an additional layer of support. All hospitals and health systems in Pennsylvania that have purchased the Vizient/AACN PA-Nurse Residency Program (NRP) are members of the PA-NRC.
- Benefits of participating in the PA-NRC include:
- Direct advancement of a key recommendation of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) to implement nurse residency programs
- Access to the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program at a discounted rate
- Participation in state-specific resources and state-layer support from the PA-NRC:
- Training and program coordination
- Communications and resource sharing
- Networking - Quarterly virtual/in-person meetings with Steering Council leadership, Vizient Annual Conference, PA-NRC Summit with the PA Organization of Nurse Leaders (PONL)
Who is the PA Nurse Residency Collaborative?
Learn WHY the PA-NRC was founded, WHO the PA-NRC is, and HOW we can help you in bolstering the success of your NRP.
Additionally, if you do not have the NRP at your institution, we invite you to watch this webinar to learn more about the PA-NRC and how we could partner to better support nurses in their transition to practice.
If you want to learn more about the PA Nurse Residency Collaborative or the Nurse Residency Program, please contact Amy Ricords, Director of Nursing Professional Advancement at
PA-NRC Membership Portal
Did you know every PA-NRC member has access to the PA-NRC membership portal that includes resources and recordings from past quarterly meetings?
*If you are a new member or have trouble accessing your account, please contact Zaharaa Davood, Senior PA-AC Manager at
The Impact of the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program in Pennsylvania:
| |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
| RNs hired at participating PA-NRC hospitals |
3,870
|
3,684
|
4,697
|
| Turnover rate for RNs at participating PA-NRC hospitals |
10% |
16% |
16% |
| Cost avoidance with the national average turnover rate of 24% and national turnover costs of $88,000 per nurse to PA-NRC turnover rate |
$47.7 million |
$25.9 million |
$33.1 million |
How Does PA Compare?
| Participating Hospitals |
|
PA-NRC:
75 of 156 acute care hospitals in PA (48%) as of September 2023
|
National Vizient NRP:
661 (June 2022) of 6,129 (May 2023) total hospitals in the U.S. in 2022 (11%) have purchased the NRP
|
Key Initiatives
-
Increase the number of hospitals with nurse residency programs: In November 2016 we formally began our collaboration with Vizient, Inc. and the PA Nurse Residency Collaborative (PA-NRC) was formed. In January 2018 we had 52 hospitals contracted through the PA-NRC. As of September 2023, a total of 76 hospitals are a part of the PA-NRC (75 acute care institutions and 1 rehab hospital). We are always signing new hospitals with the goal of bringing the NRP to every hospital across Pennsylvania.
-
Advance programs throughout Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Nurse Residency Collaborative (PA-NRC) advances residency programs and fosters collaboration among hospitals across PA that participate in the Vizient|AACN Nurse Residency Program. The PA-NRC works to address the diverse needs of hospitals and health systems across PA. The PA-NRC provides a forum for best practices and resource sharing at the state level to ensure the success of each program.
Participating PA-NRC Health Systems & Hospitals
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
- Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Excela Health
- Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital
- Excela Health Latrobe Hospital
- Excela Health Frick Hospital
Geisinger Health System
- Geisinger Medical Center, Danville
- Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre
- Geisinger Community Medical Center, Scranton
Jefferson Health
- Einstein Healthcare Network
- Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
- Einstein Medical Center, Elkins Park
- Willowcrest, Philadelphia
- MossRehab, Elkins Park
- Einstein Medication Center Montgomery, East Norriton
- Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
- Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation
- Jefferson Health - Northeast
- Jefferson Bucks Hospital, Langhorne
- Jefferson Frankford Hospital, Philadelphia
- Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, Philadelphia
- Jefferson Abington Hospital
- Jefferson Lansdale Hospital
Lehigh Valley Health Network
- Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown
- Lehigh Valley Hospital- 17th Street, Allentown
- Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg, Bethlehem
Main Line Health System
- Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood
- Paoli Hospital, Paoli
- Riddle Memorial Hospital, Media
- Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr
- Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, Bryn Mawr
Penn State Health M.S. Hershey Medical Center
- Hershey Medical Center, Hershey
- Holy Spirit Medical Center
- Health Hampden Medical Center
Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center
- Penn State St. Joseph Medical Center, Reading
Temple University Health System
- Temple University Hospitals
Tower Health
- Reading Hospital, West Reading
- Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia
University of Pennsylvania Health System
- Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Penn Presbyterian Hospital
- Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster
- Good Shepherd Penn Partners
- Chester County Hospital, West Chester
UPMC Health System
- UPMC Altoona
- UPMC Bedford
- UPMC Chautauqua
- UPMC Children's
- UPMC East
- UPMC Greene
- UPMC Hamot
- UPMC Horizon
- UPMC Jameson
- UPMC Magee
- UPMC McKeesport
- UPMC Mercy
- UPMC Northwest
- UPMC Passavant
- UPMC Pinnacle, Carlisle
- UPMC Pinnacle, Community Osteopathic
- UPMC Pinnacle, Hanover
- UPMC Pinnacle, Harrisburg
- UPMC Pinnacle, Lancaster
- UPMC Pinnacle, Lititz
- UPMC Pinnacle, Memorial
- UPMC Pinnacle, West Shore
- UPMC Presbyterian
- UPMC Shadyside
- UPMC Somerset
- UPMC St Margaret
- UPMC Susquehanna, Cole
- UPMC Susquehanna, Lock Haven
- UPMC Susquehanna, Muncy
- UPMC Susquehanna, Sunbury
- UPMC Susquehanna, Wellsboro
- UPMC Susquehanna, Williamsport
- UPMC Susquehanna, Williamsport Divine Campus
- UPMC Washington
- UPMC Western Maryland
Vizient NRP Resources
To learn more about the importance of nurse residency programs, click on the resources below.
Steering Council
The Pennsylvania Action Coalition established the PA-NRC Steering Council to support the PA-NRC. The Steering Council is comprised of individuals from PA-NRC member institutions. The Steering Council leads the development of PA-NRC programs with a goal of state-wide collaboration, support of PA-NRC Coordinators, and the professional development of new graduate nurses across Pennsylvania.
Click here to learn about all our initiatives
