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:
- Training and program coordination
- Communications and resource sharing
- 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
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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.
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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 |
2022 |
| RNs hired at participating PA-NRC hospitals |
3,870
|
3,684
|
4,697
|
4,953
|
| Turnover rate for RNs at participating PA-NRC hospitals |
10% |
16% |
16% |
11% |
| 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 |
$57.1 million |
How Does PA Compare?
| Participating Hospitals |
|
PA-NRC:
81 of 156 acute care hospitals in PA (52%) as of February 2025
|
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 Lewistown
- Geisinger Medical Center, Danville
- Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, Wilkes-Barre
- Geisinger Community Medical Center, Scranton
Guthrie Health Clinic
- Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital
- Guthrie Corning Hospital
- Guthrie Cortland Medical Center
- Guthrie Robert Packer Hospital - Towanda Campus
- Guthrie Troy Community Hospital
- Guthrie Lourdes
Indiana Regional Medical Center
Jefferson Health System
- Einstein Healthcare Network
- Einstein Medical Center, Philadelphia
- Einstein Medical Center, Elkins Park
- Willowcrest, Philadelphia
- MossRehab, Elkins Park
- Einstein Medical 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
- Hershey Medical Center
- Holy Spirit Medical Center
- Hampden Medical Center
- St. Joseph Medical Center, Reading
Temple University Health System
- Temple University Hospitals
Tower Health
- Reading Hospital, West Reading
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
- Princeton Medical Center
UPMC Health System
- UPMC Bedford
- UPMC Susquehanna, Williamsport Divine Campus
- UPMC Susquehanna,Muncy
- UPMC Pinnacle, Lititz
- UPMC Susquehanna, Cole
- UPMC Susquehanna, Wellsboro
- UPMC Somerset
- UPMC Pinnacle, Hanover
- UPMC Pinnacle, Carlisle
- UPMC Pinnacle, Memorial
- UPMC Horizon
- UPMC Northwest
- UPMC Jameson
- UPMC Pinnacle, West Shore
- UPMC Susquehanna, Lock Haven
- UPMC Chautauqua
- UPMC McKeesport
- UPMC Pinnacle, Community Osteopathic
- UPMC East
- UPMC St Margaret
- UPMC Susquehanna, Williamsport
- UPMC Altoona
- UPMC Passavant
- UPMC Western Psych
- UPMC Pinnacle, Harrisburg
- UPMC Children's
- UPMC Magee
- UPMC Mercy
- UPMC Hamot
- UPMC Shadyside
- UPMC Presbyterian
Washington Health System
- Washington Hospital
- Greene Hospital
Vizient NRP Resources
To learn more about the importance of nurse residency programs, click on the resources below.
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.
Click here to learn about all our initiatives
