Date of Conferral
12-15-2025
Date of Award
December 2025
Degree
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School
Nursing
Advisor
Catherine Garner
Abstract
The transition from graduate education to clinical practice marks a pivotal point in the professional journey of advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). Despite rigorous preparation, many APRN MSN graduates struggle to adapt to the complex expectations of autonomous practice. The lack of structured mentorship, inconsistent orientation processes, and unclear performance expectations contribute to high stress, role confusion, and early turnover. This Doctor of Nursing Practice Executive Leadership project addressed this critical issue by evaluating whether an interprofessional team could achieve consensus on developing a best practice program to guide APRN MSN graduates’ transition to independent clinical practice. This initiative was conducted within a large healthcare system facing persistent challenges in APRN recruitment and retention. The project’s purpose was to design an evidence-based Transition-to-Practice (TTP) program through collaborative leadership, aligning institutional objectives with national standards for APRN readiness and competency. The project used a quality improvement framework, integrating systems thinking, shared decision-making, and transformational leadership principles. Data from organizational metrics, literature evidence, and stakeholder feedback informed program design and evaluation. Findings revealed that the absence of a standardized transition framework created inconsistent onboarding, professional isolation, and suboptimal clinical outcomes. Through structured interprofessional collaboration, the team achieved consensus on a comprehensive TTP program including mentorship, simulation-based education, professional development workshops, and standardized evaluation metrics. The implications of this project extend beyond organizational improvements to broader workforce sustainability, improved patient outcomes, and health equity. The TIP program promotes professional confidence, enhances patient safety, and fosters an inclusive learning culture that values.
Recommended Citation
NWOSU, JENNIFER Nneoma, "Transition-to-Practice Program for APRN MSN Graduates" (2025). Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies. 18719.
https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/18719
