More than 40 hospitals will participate in the Pennsylvania Nurse Residency Collaborative, a joint initiative started by the Pennsylvania Action Coalition and The Vizient/American Association College of Nursing Nurse Residency Program.
The collaborative aims to ease nurses' transition from the classroom setting to a clinical practice environment and to motivate nurses to take on a larger role in the healthcare system.
The Pennsylvania hospitals participating in the program's inaugural year include Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network, Harrisburg-based PinnacleHealth System, Philadelphia-based Temple University Health System, Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center and Pittsburgh-based UPMC, among others.
Officials said they also hope to expand the collaborative to include the state's rural hospitals over the next few years.
"Nurses want more resources and training focused on leadership, patient outcomes, and professional development and now Pennsylvania hospitals are leading the way in training for new nurses," said Sarah Hexem, executive director of the Pennsylvania Action Coalition. "This training will empower nurses with evidence-based resources that will improve patient care and better welcome nurses to the clinical setting."