Running head: THE INCORPORATION OF SIMULATED ACTIVITIES 1
THE INCORPORATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED SIMULATED ACTIVITIES IN AN
EXISTING NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
A Scholarly Project
Submitted to the
Faculty of Liberty University
In partial fulfillment of
The requirements for the
degree Of Doctor of Nursing
Practice By
Wendy Partin Thompson
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
October, 2018
,THE INCORPORATION OF SIMULATED 2
THE INCORPORATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED SIMULATED ACTIVITIES IN AN
EXISTING NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
A Scholarly Project
Submitted to the
Faculty of Liberty University
In partial fulfillment of
The requirements for the
degree Of Doctor of Nursing
Practice By
Wendy Partin Thompson
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
October, 2018
Scholarly Project Chair Approval:
Dr. Sharon J. Kopis, EdD, MS, RN, FNP-C, CNE Date
,THE INCORPORATION OF SIMULATED 3
ABSTRACT
As new graduate nurses are challenged with caring for patients with complex disease processes,
nurse residency programs are designed to ease the transition into practice. A community based
hospital, in the southern United States has recently implemented such a program. However, the
organization continues to have problems with nursing turnover. This problem is especially
evident in nurses with less than one year of clinical experience. Research has shown that nurse
residency programs without simulative activities eliminate vital critical thinking activities which
prepare novice nurses for clinical practice. The purpose of this project was to design evidence-
based simulative activities to increase self-efficacy in new graduate Registered Nurses (RNs). A
sample of 15 nurse residents received the education interventions and completed a pre and
posttest designed to measure self-efficacy. The average pre-intervention test indicated that the
new nurse graduates lacked confidence, critical thinking, and remaining calm in dealing with
complex clinical situations. After the intervention, the average post-intervention test indicated
that the new nurse graduates showed a statistically significant increase in in problem-solving
skills, clinical confidence in decision-making, confidence in patient education, handling
unexpected results, remaining calm in complex situations, and finding solutions to clinical
problems. As a result, the organization plans to add simulative activities permanently to the
residency program.
Keywords: Nurse residency program, new graduates, simulation, self-efficacy
, THE INCORPORATION OF SIMULATED 4
Copyright Page
THE INCORPORATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED SIMULATED ACTIVITIES IN AN
EXISTING NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
©2018
Wendy Partin Thompson
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
THE INCORPORATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED SIMULATED ACTIVITIES IN AN
EXISTING NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
A Scholarly Project
Submitted to the
Faculty of Liberty University
In partial fulfillment of
The requirements for the
degree Of Doctor of Nursing
Practice By
Wendy Partin Thompson
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
October, 2018
,THE INCORPORATION OF SIMULATED 2
THE INCORPORATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED SIMULATED ACTIVITIES IN AN
EXISTING NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
A Scholarly Project
Submitted to the
Faculty of Liberty University
In partial fulfillment of
The requirements for the
degree Of Doctor of Nursing
Practice By
Wendy Partin Thompson
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA
October, 2018
Scholarly Project Chair Approval:
Dr. Sharon J. Kopis, EdD, MS, RN, FNP-C, CNE Date
,THE INCORPORATION OF SIMULATED 3
ABSTRACT
As new graduate nurses are challenged with caring for patients with complex disease processes,
nurse residency programs are designed to ease the transition into practice. A community based
hospital, in the southern United States has recently implemented such a program. However, the
organization continues to have problems with nursing turnover. This problem is especially
evident in nurses with less than one year of clinical experience. Research has shown that nurse
residency programs without simulative activities eliminate vital critical thinking activities which
prepare novice nurses for clinical practice. The purpose of this project was to design evidence-
based simulative activities to increase self-efficacy in new graduate Registered Nurses (RNs). A
sample of 15 nurse residents received the education interventions and completed a pre and
posttest designed to measure self-efficacy. The average pre-intervention test indicated that the
new nurse graduates lacked confidence, critical thinking, and remaining calm in dealing with
complex clinical situations. After the intervention, the average post-intervention test indicated
that the new nurse graduates showed a statistically significant increase in in problem-solving
skills, clinical confidence in decision-making, confidence in patient education, handling
unexpected results, remaining calm in complex situations, and finding solutions to clinical
problems. As a result, the organization plans to add simulative activities permanently to the
residency program.
Keywords: Nurse residency program, new graduates, simulation, self-efficacy
, THE INCORPORATION OF SIMULATED 4
Copyright Page
THE INCORPORATION OF EVIDENCE-BASED SIMULATED ACTIVITIES IN AN
EXISTING NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM
©2018
Wendy Partin Thompson
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
