The week between Christmas and New Year's is one of my favorites. It's a great time to slow down, wrap things up, and begin to think about the exciting promises in store for the upcoming year. It's the prologue to an exciting new book, full of possibilities and events that can change the course of our lives forever. This is especially true for new graduate nurses. In 2025, it's estimated that more than 150,000 individuals will achieve their RN. This means we have 150,000 opportunities this year to address our workforce shortages to ensure patients receive the care they deserve. 

While the education and training provided in academia are crucial, the real challenge and opportunity lie in what happens next. It's not just about producing another nurse to fill a hole; it's about how we support and nurture these new graduates once they enter the workforce. The first year in practice is pivotal. It sets the tone for their entire career, influencing how they view themselves as a nurse, their organizations, and the profession. It's vitally essential that nurses new to practice are allowed to continue developing their competence in a safe way that builds their confidence, empowering them to become engaged in their organization and the nursing profession. This requires a collective effort from all of us—educators, practice partners, and the nursing community.  

During the week between Christmas and New Year's, I had the opportunity to sit down with Dr. Judy Duchscher, PhD, MN, BScN, RN, for our Beyond Nurse Residency season 2 premiere episode. We discussed the new graduate nurse experience and what she has learned from studying it for over 20 years. Dr. Duchscher's transition model emphasizes the stages of "Doing," "Being," and "Knowing," which new nurses go through during their first year of practice. These stages often include periods of "shock" and "crisis," where new nurses might think, "I'm not sure I can do this" and "I'm not sure I want to do this." You can learn more about Dr. Duchscher’s theory and so much more about new graduate nurse transitions on her website.

When I think about these 150,000 new graduates entering our profession this year, I can't help but think about how crucial it is that organizations offer strong support to help new graduates through these challenging stages. My hope for 2025 is that more organizations than ever will do their part to keep nurses in the profession. Providing them with what they need to be successful—not just competencies but also a network of support, belonging, inclusion, and recognition that cultivates engagement for years to come.  

As we embark on 2025, I want all our nurse leaders and educators in practice to know that the Iowa Online Nurse Residency Program (IONRP) is here to help. We offer the Academy to help organizations evaluate where they are and where they want to be, uncovering gaps that might hinder the success of implementing transition-to-practice support. We provide preceptor training to ensure those supporting new nurses have the competencies they need to be successful. Our robust nurse residency program gives new nurses and those implementing the program nearly everything they need for success. Finally, we offer a clinician wellbeing program to ensure those supporting new nurses and others in the organization have the intrapersonal skills to become resilient clinicians while the practice setting continues to evolve into a healthier healthcare system.  

By leveraging the insights from Dr. Duchscher's transition model and the comprehensive support offered by IONRP, we can create an environment where new graduate nurses are empowered to succeed and remain in the profession for years to come. Let's make 2025 a year of growth, support, and success for all new graduate nurses. 

Nicole Weathers, MSN, RN, NPD-BC