The first year of a nurses’ career is often one of the most difficult. Since 2005, the Nurse Residency Program (NRP) at Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center (JHHCMC) has provided new nurses with the tools they need to succeed. “It can be difficult to transition from an academic to a clinical setting because you’re taking all of this theory and trying to make it practical,” says Stephanie Al-Adhami, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, CAPA, (pictured above, first row, far right) nursing professional development specialist. “The NRP is a very systemized, evidence-based process to transition the nurses so that they can become fully competent and confident working members of the team.” 

New graduate RNs are automatically enrolled in the program upon hiring, which gives them a solid foundation as they join our nursing team. The year-long program is composed of two parts: a clinical orientation when nurses develop skills as they transition to independent practice; and professional development coaching offered during monthly seminars on topics like communication, ethics and more. Each participant receives a guidebook for their first year of nursing, which they work through as a group during monthly seminars. Stephanie says, “We address questions like ‘How do I handle it when my patient dies?’ ‘What does health equity actually mean in practice?’ We look at the big picture of health care to really figure out where they align within their profession. They're getting the support that they need to make what is probably one of the most difficult transitions they'll make in their career.”  

As a member of the clinical education team, Colleen Pallozzi, MSN, RN, NPD-BC, (pictured above, front row, third from left) works alongside Stephanie to create a safe and understanding environment within JHHCMC’s greater nursing team. We’re available whether they need to work through a struggle or celebrate a success,” she says. “We make sure they know they are cared about. We want to make their first year a rewarding and positive experience.”  

The program is supported by generous funding from the Howard County Medical Center Foundation and has received national accolades. In 2023, the NRP earned the #3 spot on nurse.org’s list of the top 10 nurse residency programs in the county. Its curriculum has received accreditation with distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center making HCMC one of approximately 250 hospitals in the world to have earned this level of designation. This accreditation validates that the program not only meets the evidence-based gold standard for transition-to-practice nursing programs, but that it also demonstrates “exemplary and innovative practice.”  

JHHCMC’s NRP is distinguished by its attention to confidence and camaraderie-building. Stephanie and the Clinical Education team create a support network by introducing the new nurses to staff from across the hospital, but they also teach the new nurses to lean on each other for support. At the beginning of the seminar, NRP facilitators lead small group sessions called Clinical Reflections. “The new grads get to discuss what’s been going on and can share difficult experiences too which can be so beneficial because others may be listening and thinking ‘I’m not alone in how I feel about this,’” says Colleen. 

Surveys show that the NRP has helped new JHHCMC nurses safely share their experiences, decrease their stress and anxiety and more. “Nursing is hard – physically and emotionally,” says Colleen, “but we want these new nurses to be successful. That’s what the NRP is all about. When people feel cared about and appreciated at their job, they’re more likely to stay – and we care a lot about these people.”