Nurse Practitioner Residency Training Programs in the West: Availability & Curricula
Background: Over 80 residencies for nurse practitioners exist in the nation, with a growing number in the WIN region. To date little is known about their curricula.
Methods: Cochrane, PubMed, CINAHL, ERIC, and the Proquest Dissertation & Thesis databases were searched for relevant resources. The search was conducted between March and May 2014 using both controlled vocabulary terms and keywords. References lists were screened. A Google keyword search was conducted primarily for the purpose of identifying current residency programs. Resources originating outside the U.S. and non-English resources were excluded. Data were analyzed by review of the websites to identify the location of programs in the WIN region and the number of residents enrolled where that could be determined. Content analysis of curricular components, including didactic, clinical practice (continuity and specialty training), and practice inquiry experiences was conducted to reveal patterns across the sites.
Outcomes Documented: Common curricular elements included: 1) Precepted continuity clinics in which NP residents develop a patient panel with an NP or MD preceptor; 2) Specialty rotations in which residents rotate through specialty clinics such as orthopedics, women's health/prenatal care, psychiatry, geriatrics, HIV and Hep C, dermatology, newborn, and pediatrics; 3) Independent clinics in which residents see patients independently with a designated primary care provider (PCP) available for consultation; and 4) Didactic sessions in which residents attend didactic sessions on high-volume/high-risk topics. Common to many programs was emphasis on mentoring by a clinician. Limited information was available about interprofessional networking, processes to enhance role transition, and practice inquiry experiences.
Conclusions: This review documented the number and variety of NP residency programs in the WIN region. In addition, results suggested a need for a structured program for new-graduate nurse practitioners. Challenges revealed by the review were attributable to the complexity of large care systems which are meeting an influx of complex new patients with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the critical timing of role formation in the first year of NP practice, the need for strategies for utilizing evidence-based practice, and sustainable funding for these programs.