The Transition to Professional Practice model promotes retention, enhances education and support, reduces turnover and instills CMC’s values and mission in new registered nurses. The program also recognizes and reinforces that an individual patient’s preference, values and needs are respected and the patient (or designee) is a full partner in providing compassionate, coordinated, culturally competent and safe care.
The professional approach to the program is specifically designed to support the recently-graduated registered nurse (under two years of experience) as they move from a learning to a practice environment. This is achieved by creating a seamless progression of competency-based skills to ensure a successful transition into their practice.
The program is 12 months long. A new employee can join the program at any time as each module is offered once every 12 months. This prevents delays in start dates required by other programs as new employees wait for the new cohort to begin.
Each month the group meets for four hours in preplanned modules.The program was modeled using the Massachusetts Department of Higher Learning “Nurse of the Future Core Competencies.” The ten modules from this program are the basis of our curriculum and include:
- Patient centered care
- Communication
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Safety
- Quality improvement
- Evidence based practice
- Professionalism/leadership
- Systems based practice
- Information and technology
- Leadership
Simulation labs are incorporated after every third classroom session to enhance and support learning.
Additionally, new nurses will also have time to meet with instructors and will be assigned a mentor who will serve as an adjunct instructor. Nurses will also participate in one-on-one time with managers and directors as well as opportunities to connect with employees. Finally, the employee will identify and be required to take part in a quality program, chosen in conjunction with their director, to be presented in a capstone format upon graduation from the program.
For more information on CMC’s Transition to Professional Practice program, please call Nursing Administration at 603.663.6540.