Nurse practitioner residency programs and transition to practice

The role of a nurse practitioner (NP) is evolving and continues to change with the evolution of health care and increasing complexity of the patient population. With NPs now providing approximately 20% of primary care in the United States, it is evident that the role is expanding and has a vital position in health care.2 With an increase in the number of NPs and demand for their expertise, it is important to explore whether NPs feel prepared for the demanding expectations and increasing complexities of role responsibilities. One strategy to address the question about role transition for novice NPs is the creation of NP residency programs. NP residencies offer an extra postgraduate experience to newly licensed NPs to include hands on training and mentorship in order to ease the transition from graduate school into professional practice.