There are so many choices when providing transition-to-practice support. You can go the traditional route of a face-to-face program, an online approach, or even a hybrid. On top of that, you can decide if you want to make your homegrown program or shop for a vendor. There are many pros and cons to each. Let's explore! First, let's look at delivery methods.
Traditional In-Person
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Pros
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Cons
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- Time face-to-face with new graduates
- Simplifies hands-on & small group activities
- Easier for the facilitator to gauge engagement in learning and distraction
- Sidebar conversations occur more naturally, leading to deeper learning
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- Learners must drive in on a day off
- Sessions are often extended (4-8 hours) - more time = more $$
- Inconvenient for night shift
- Easy to default to lecture-heavy content
- Physical space availability can be an issue
- Temptations to pull learners to patient care
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All-Online
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Pros
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Cons
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- Flexible for the learner to complete whenever and wherever
- No driving times
- Learning with familiar technology
- Efficient delivery - saves time = saves $$
- Ability to standardize content
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- Requires functioning technology & internet
- Less face-to-face time with the learner
- Difficult to gauge engagement & distraction
- Must be more intentional in developing connections and relationships
- Too much flexibility can lead to work not getting done
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Hybrid or Blended
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Pros
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Cons
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- Flexible for the learner to complete pieces of the program at their convenience
- Ability to standardize content
- Face-to-face time with learners
- Opportunity for hands-on, simulation, etc.
- Easier for the facilitator to gauge engagement in learning and distraction
- Sidebar conversations occur more naturally, leading to deeper learning
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- Requires functioning technology & internet
- Learners must drive in on a day off
- Inconvenient for night shift
- Physical space availability can be an issue
- Temptations to pull learners to patient care
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Once you decide on your preferred delivery method, determine if you will develop your own program or go with a vendor. Again, there are pros and cons to each.
Home Grown
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Pros
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Cons
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- Total control over the content, program structure, delivery, etc.
- Incorporate organizational subject matter experts (SME)
- Easier to make changes if things are not working
- Greater flexibility for facilitators
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- Resource intensive to develop & maintain i.e., time and salary of facilitators, SME
- Requires continuous updating by the organization
- Difficult to standardize across cohorts
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Vendors
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Pros
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Cons
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- Standardized content
- Automatic evidence-based updates
- Fewer resources needed for program implementation
- Extended support from the vendor
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- Less control over the content
- Expense to purchase curriculum and other resources
- Less flexibility regarding delivery and implementation
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Large healthcare organizations can go with any combination of the above options because of their available resources. Our smaller healthcare organizations, which are most healthcare organizations in the United States, are not so lucky. Resource restrictions and new graduate volumes make this process a little more complicated, which is precisely why the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program exists. Our program helps organizations like yours provide programs to support new graduate nurses during their transition into practice. We serve as an extension of your education department; we standardize the curriculum content and allow you to enroll as little as one new nurse at a time. Big or small, we have options for you all. Which route do you think is the best fit for your organization? Still unsure? Schedule a call with our program manager to learn more, and we can help you decide.
Nicole Weathers, MSN, RN, NPD-BC (IONRP Manager) nicole-weathers@uiowa.edu
Schedule a time to learn more: https://bit.ly/3CDOAdx
