Closing the Gap: Developing and Evaluating a Specialized Ambulatory Care Curriculum for New Graduate Nurses

Conference attendees will be able to design and implement a specialty ambulatory care curriculum as part of the NGRNs transition to practice program. The purpose of the project is to develop and evaluate specialty ambulatory care curriculum for newly graduated registered nurses (NGRN) using the AAACN scope and standards in a complex 300+ multi-specialty ambulatory care setting at a large academic level-1 trauma medical center.

Nurses in the ambulatory care setting are managing chronic complex diseases that require multidimensional clinical judgment skills. NGRNs are not prepared to work in the ambulatory care setting due to a lack of ambulatory care experience during nursing school. By implementing a specialty ambulatory care curriculum track as part of an accredited transition to practice program, the confidence and competence of the nurse’s knowledge, skills, and attitude increase, reducing the education-to-practice gap. Multi-specialty didactic curriculum, competency tools, and progression plans were developed using QSEN competencies and AAACN Scope and Standards. Program designed to provide experiential learning across the continuum of care that prepares NGRNs to practice at the top of their license and provide clinic leadership for an interdisciplinary team and holistic care to a diverse patient population. NGRN candidates were selected based on the clinic setting, staffing model, candidates’ career interests, and nursing/operational leader approval. The candidates had CMA or LVN ambulatory care experience before transitioning into the NGRN role. Data collection: retention and Casey-Fink Experience survey.

To meet the needs of the diverse patient population and provide care across the continuum, the NGRN focused on competencies in the following specialties: cardiology, pain management, neurology, urology, OB/GYN, pulmonary, GI, wound care, family medicine, pediatrics, hospice/palliative, infectious disease, nephrology, and endocrinology. Seven NGRNs have participated to date. Completion of the clinical immersion phase of the transition-to-practice program is 100% with a 1-year retention of 100%. Casey-Fink experience survey results above the benchmark in autonomy and advocacy, collaboration, unit engagement, unit leadership, and satisfaction and commitment. Standardized EBP program provides a career pathway for clinical staff in the ambulatory care setting and pursuing a BSN nursing degree. This program can be replicated in other organizations seeking to establish a transition to practice program for NGRNs in the ambulatory care setting.