Residency programs for new nurse graduates: How widespread are they and what are the primary obstacles to further adoption?

OBJECTIVE:: The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of hospital RN residencies and the associated factors. BACKGROUND:: The 2010 Institute of Medicine/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation report, The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health, recommends the adoption of nurse residency programs. METHODS:: Members of the American Organization of Nurse Executives were surveyed, and covariates were identified. RESULTS:: We found approximately 36.9% of all hospitals in our study offered a nurse residency in 2011. Associated covariates included not-for-profit status, midsize, and location in the South. Hospitals that offer residency programs were more likely to have other training programs. CONCLUSIONS:: Findings suggest that residencies have been widely supported even in times of economic recession. It is important to track the expansion of these programs and to initiate research to examine the long-term impacts of residencies on nurse retention and clinical outcomes.