In response to emerging evidence about building competence and confidence, OHSU piloted a Transition to Practice (TTP) program for the adult Intensive Care Units in 2013. The learnings and best practices were disseminated to the Perioperative & Procedural Services and Women’s & Children’s Services in 2017. This program is responsive to the different learning priorities of new graduate nurses (residents), experienced nurses transitioning to new specialty practice (specialty fellows), and experienced nurses transitioning to a related specialty practice (fellows).

The TTP program is managed by the Center for Professional Practice.  The TTP Coordinators are clinical nurses with specialty-population expertise, who want to develop skills in providing peer feedback, organizing curriculum content, facilitating learning activities, and supporting nurses and preceptors through their practice transitions. The Unit Leadership Team evaluates each new nurse’s translation of their knowledge and skills into patient care delivery, verifies readiness for independent practice and plans for ongoing professional development.

The TTP program is a concept-based curriculum that integrates professional practice and specialty population content to individualize each nurse’s orientation and optimize the use of learning resources.  Throughout the program, nurses are challenged to know, own, and perform their responsibilities of nursing professional practice through self-directivity, self-management, reflection, and peer feedback. By collaborating with stakeholders, using the best evidence and evaluating practice outcomes including teamwork and patient outcomes, transitioning nurses are successful in integrating previous experience with new knowledge and standards.

The learning activities are based on modified versions of the Oregon Consortium for Nursing Education Clinical Education Model and the Married State Preceptorship Model. Learning strategies are inclusive of skill-, concept-, practice- and problem-based activities. For example, the program employs reflective debriefing, narrative medicine, self-assessments, simulation, just-in-time training, eLearning, and preceptorship.  The Learning Activity Guideline (LAG) outlines the essential fundamental & foundational knowledge, learning outcomes, required preparation, ongoing professional development, additional resources, and progression methods and tools.

The success of the individual nurse is evaluated using progression methods and tools like feedback, rounding for practice, unit leadership & TTP coordinator discussions, and benchmark reviews.  The success of the program is measured on its ability to support and retain a diverse talent pool.

All applicant requirements

• Degree from a program accredited by Commission of Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing (ACEN) or Commission for Nursing Education Accreditation (CNEA).
  • External Hire: Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing.
  • Internal Hire: Associate of Science in Nursing minimum requirement for current registered nurse at OHSU or Baccalaureate of Science in Nursing (preferred).
• Current, unencumbered Oregon State Registered Nurse License by the start date.
• BLS must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network branch of AHA by the start date.
• Unencumbered criminal background check by the start date.
• Minimum score of 11/18 on OHSU Nurse Interview Evaluation Tool.
• Complete the online application. Upload resume or CV, essay, and BLS card. Upload ACLS and/or PALS if applicable.

Requirements include

Either:

• An integrated practicum completed within the last 12-months
• 1-year of current nursing experience.
  • Certification in specialty (preferred)

External Hire: BLS and ACLS must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network branch of AHA by the start date.
 
Internal Hire: ACLS must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network branch of AHA before independent practice.

Schedule

• Spring Cohort for 7C-11K Cardiovascular Unit ONLY:
  • External Hire Start Date May 20, 2019
  • Internal Hire Start Date May 27, 2019
• Summer Cohort for 7C-11K Cardiovascular Unit ONLY:
  • External Hire Start Date August 19, 2019
  • Internal Hire Start Date August 26, 2019
• Winter Cohort 2020:
  • Start Date for all of Acute Care – Intermediate Care Units: January 2020
• Spring Cohort 2020:
  • Start Date: April 2020
• Summer Cohort 2020:
  • Start Date: July 2020

Requirements include

• Either:
  • A minimum of 180 hours of direct-patient care in OR practicum completed within the last 12-months.
  • 2-years of current Adult or Pediatric Inpatient Acute Care, Intensive Care Unit, Emergency Department or Post Anesthesia Care Unit experience.
    • Certification in specialty (preferred)

Schedule

• Fall Cohort 2019:
  • Internal Hire Start Date September 23, 2019
  • External Hire Start Date September 30, 2019
• Spring Cohort 2020:
  • Start Date: Either April or May 2020

Requirements include

• Either:
  • A minimum of 180 hours of direct-patient care in PeriAnesthesia practicum completed within the last 12-months.
  • A minimum of 180 hours of direct-patient care in an inpatient area practicum completed within the last 12-months.
  • 2-years of current Adult Inpatient Acute Care experience.
    • Certification in specialty (preferred)
• External Hire: ACLS must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network branch of AHA by the start date.
• Internal Hire: ACLS must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network branch of AHA by independent practice.

Schedule

• Spring Cohort 2019:
  • External Hire Start Date May 20, 2019
  • Internal Hire Start Date May 27, 2019
• Fall Cohort 2019:
  • External Hire Start Date August 19, 2019
  • Internal Hire Start Date August 26, 2019
• Winter Cohort 2020:
  • Start Date: February 2020
• Spring Cohort 2020:
  • Start Date: May 2020
• Fall Cohort 2020:
  • Start Date: August 2020

Requirements include

• Either:
  • A minimum of 180 hours of direct-patient care in PeriAnesthesia practicum completed within the last 12-months.
  • A minimum of 180 hours of direct-patient care in an inpatient area practicum completed within the last 12-months.
  • 2-years of current Adult Inpatient Acute Care experience.
    • Certification in specialty (preferred)
• External Hire: PALS must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network branch of AHA by the start date.
• Internal Hire: PALS must be issued by the American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network branch of AHA by independent practice.

Schedule

• Winter Cohort 2020:
  • Start Date: January 2020

Requirements include

• A minimum of 2 years in Adult or Pediatric ICU, PACU, Procedural, OR ED experience within the last 5 years.
• Current BLS/ACLS/PALS.

Schedule

• September 2018-February 2019