Study: Changes in new nurses’ competencies over 1 year in a nurse residency program

Editor's Note

In this study, competency ratings increased significantly from 1 to 5 months and from 5 to 11 months in a nurse residency program.

Preceptors, nurse educators, and/or unit managers rated new nurse residents using The Appraisal of Nursing Practice, an observational rating based on Quality and Safety in Nursing Education standards.

Of the 353 new nurses in the program, ratings for teamwork and evidence-based practice increased the most.

Future studies should assess factors affecting the development of nurse competencies in various settings, the researchers say.