PA Nurse Residency Collaborative (PA-NRC)

Nurse residency programs assist in preparing nurses to transition from the role of a student nurse to the role of a professional registered nurse into clinical practice. Evidence shows that completing a nurse residency program provides new nurses with the necessary skillset and knowledge to provide safe, high-quality, patient-focused care. 

The Pennsylvania Nursing Workforce Coalition (PA-NWC) implements nurse residency programs in response to a key recommendation from the National Academy of Medicine, as outlined in The Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health (2011):

"Residency provides a continuing opportunity to apply important knowledge for the purpose of remaining a safe and competent provider in a continuous learning environment."

The Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program™ (NRP), developed by Vizient® and the American Association of Colleges of Nursing, supports new graduate nurses through data-driven solutions as they enter clinical practice. The evidence-based curriculum delivers on three key areas: leadership, patient outcomes, and professional development. The NRP helps organizations obtain and maintain Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The PA-NWC aims to increase the number of health care institutions with the NRP through its strategic partnership with Vizient, Inc.

The PA Nurse Residency Collaborative (PA-NRC)

The PA-NRC was established in 2016 as a partnership of the PA-NWC and Vizient, Inc. to implement residency programs in Pennsylvania and to provide an additional layer of support.

All hospitals and health systems in Pennsylvania that have purchased the Vizient/AACN PA-Nurse Residency Program (NRP) are members of the PA-NRC. 

  • Benefits of participating in the PA-NRC include:
  • Direct advancement of a key recommendation of the National Academy of Medicine (formerly the Institute of Medicine) to implement nurse residency programs
  • Access to the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program at a discounted rate
  • Participation in state-specific resources and state-layer support from the PA-NRC:
  1. Training and program coordination
  2. Communications and resource sharing
  3. Networking - Quarterly virtual/in-person meetings with Steering Council leadership, Vizient Annual Conference, PA-NRC Summit with the PA Organization of Nurse Leaders (PONL)

 

Key PA-NRC Initiatives

  • Increase the number of hospitals with nurse residency programs: In November 2016 we formally began our collaboration with Vizient, Inc. and the PA Nurse Residency Collaborative (PA-NRC) was formed. In January 2018 we had 52 hospitals contracted through the PA-NRC. As of September 2023, a total of 76 hospitals are a part of the PA-NRC (75 acute care institutions and 1 rehab hospital). We are always signing new hospitals with the goal of bringing the NRP to every hospital across Pennsylvania.

  • Advance programs throughout Pennsylvania: The Pennsylvania Nurse Residency Collaborative (PA-NRC) advances residency programs and fosters collaboration among hospitals across PA that participate in the Vizient|AACN Nurse Residency Program. The PA-NRC works to address the diverse needs of hospitals and health systems across PA. The PA-NRC provides a forum for best practices and resource sharing at the state level to ensure the success of each program. 

Who is the PA-NRC?

Learn why the PA-NRC was founded, who the PA-NRC is, and how we can help you in bolstering the success of your NRP.

Additionally, if you do not have the NRP at your institution, we invite you to watch this webinar to learn more about the PA-NRC and how we could partner to better support nurses in their transition to practice.

 Learn More About PA-NRC 

 

The Impact of the Vizient/AACN Nurse Residency Program in Pennsylvania

  2019 2020 2021
RNs hired at participating PA-NRC hospitals

3,870

3,684

4,697

Turnover rate for RNs at participating PA-NRC hospitals 10% 16% 16%
Cost avoidance with the national average turnover rate of 24% and national turnover costs of $88,000 per nurse to PA-NRC turnover rate $47.7 million $25.9 million $33.1 million

How Does PA Compare?

Participating Hospitals 

PA-NRC:

75 of 156 acute care hospitals in PA (48%) as of September 2023

National Vizient NRP:

661 (June 2022) of 6,129 (May 2023) total hospitals in the U.S. in 2022 (11%) have purchased the NRP

Learn More About PA-NRC

Participating PA-NRC Health Systems & Hospitals

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Excela Health

  • Excela Health Westmoreland Hospital
  • Excela Health Latrobe Hospital
  • Excela Health Frick Hospital

Geisinger Health System

  • Geisinger Medical Center, Danville
  • Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre
  • Geisinger Community Medical Center, Scranton

Jefferson Health

  • Einstein Healthcare Network
  • Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
  • Einstein Medical Center, Elkins Park
  • Willowcrest, Philadelphia
  • MossRehab, Elkins Park
  • Einstein Medication Center Montgomery, East Norriton
  • Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
  • Jefferson Moss-Magee Rehabilitation
  • Jefferson Health - Northeast 
  • Jefferson Bucks Hospital, Langhorne
  • Jefferson Frankford Hospital, Philadelphia
  • Jefferson Torresdale Hospital, Philadelphia
  • Jefferson Abington Hospital
  • Jefferson Lansdale Hospital

Lehigh Valley Health Network

  • Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest, Allentown
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital- 17th Street, Allentown
  • Lehigh Valley Hospital, Muhlenberg, Bethlehem

Main Line Health System

  • Lankenau Medical Center, Wynnewood
  • Paoli Hospital, Paoli
  • Riddle Memorial Hospital, Media
  • Bryn Mawr Hospital, Bryn Mawr
  • Bryn Mawr Rehabilitation Hospital, Bryn Mawr

Penn State Health M.S. Hershey Medical Center

  • Hershey Medical Center, Hershey
  • Holy Spirit Medical Center
  • Health Hampden Medical Center

Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center

  • Penn State St. Joseph Medical Center, Reading 

Temple University Health System

  • Temple University Hospitals

Tower Health

  • Reading Hospital, West Reading
  • Chestnut Hill Hospital, Philadelphia

University of Pennsylvania Health System

  • Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Hospital, and Penn Presbyterian Hospital
  • Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster
  • Good Shepherd Penn Partners
  • Chester County Hospital, West Chester

UPMC Health System

  • UPMC Altoona
  • UPMC Bedford
  • UPMC Chautauqua
  • UPMC Children's
  • UPMC East
  • UPMC Greene
  • UPMC Hamot
  • UPMC Horizon
  • UPMC Jameson
  • UPMC Magee
  • UPMC McKeesport
  • UPMC Mercy
  • UPMC Northwest
  • UPMC Passavant
  • UPMC Pinnacle, Carlisle
  • UPMC Pinnacle, Community Osteopathic
  • UPMC Pinnacle, Hanover
  • UPMC Pinnacle, Harrisburg
  • UPMC Pinnacle, Lancaster
  • UPMC Pinnacle, Lititz
  • UPMC Pinnacle, Memorial
  • UPMC Pinnacle, West Shore
  • UPMC Presbyterian
  • UPMC Shadyside
  • UPMC Somerset
  • UPMC St Margaret
  • UPMC Susquehanna, Cole
  • UPMC Susquehanna, Lock Haven
  • UPMC Susquehanna, Muncy
  • UPMC Susquehanna, Sunbury
  • UPMC Susquehanna, Wellsboro
  • UPMC Susquehanna, Williamsport
  • UPMC Susquehanna, Williamsport Divine Campus
  • UPMC Washington
  • UPMC Western Maryland

Vizient NRP Resources

Steering Council

The PA-NWC established the PA-NRC Steering Council to support the PA-NRC. The Steering Council is comprised of individuals from PA-NRC member institutions. The Steering Council leads the development of PA-NRC programs with a goal of state-wide collaboration, support of PA-NRC Coordinators, and the professional development of new graduate nurses across Pennsylvania. 

 

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