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K E Y W O R D S : advance practice, curriculum design, NP residency program, transition to practice 1 PROBLEM STATEMENT The role of a nurse practitioner (NP) is evolving and continues to change with the evolution of health care and increasing complexity of the patient population. With NPs now providing approximately 20%of primary care in the United States, it is evident that the role is expanding and has a vital position in health care. 2 With an increase in the number of NPs and demand for their expertise, it is important to explore whether NPs feel prepared for the demanding expectations and increasing complexities of role responsibilities. One strategy to address the question about role transition for novice NPs is the creation of NP residency programs. NP residencies offer an extra postgraduate experience to newly licensed NPs to include hands on training and mentorship in order to ease the transition from graduate school into professional practice. As NP residencies gain momentum and popularity in the UnitedStates, it has become clear that there is no standardized framework for these programs. Challenges related to such programs include title, content, funding, preceptors, and perceptions of readiness to practice.The development of NP residencies has sparked controversy as well.Educational programs as well as some experienced NPs feel that residency programs undermine the rigorous educational preparation required to become a certified NP, and requiring additional training implies that NPs are not prepared to practice. 2 With a lack of NP residency program research related to need, structure, curriculum, and patient outcomes, it is apparent that these programs need further investigation. The goal of this study is to explore the perceptions of practicing NPs who have already experienced transition into practice regarding the need and necessary content for an NP residency program. The data collected may also help clarifying what components practicing NPs identify as necessary for a residency curriculum in order to ensure successful transition, improve retention, and continue to provide high-quality patient-centered care. The research questions for this study are "What are the perceptions of practicing NPs regarding NP residency programs as a strategy for transitioning to practice?" and "What content do practicing NPs identify as important in a successful NP residency program?" The purpose of this article is to describe the perceptions of need for additional training for novice NPs and what content should be included in a program to ensure successful transition to practice. LITERATURE REVIEWA literature review was conducted utilizing the databases CINAHL Complete, Academic OneFile, as well as MEDLINE. The search terms used within these databases include NP residency, NP fellowship, NP perception, nurse residency programs, and transition into practice. These search terms yielded a limited number of peer-reviewed journal articles, all within the last decade, which may be attributed to the newness and limited resea...

Determining the best ways to teach military culture and the veteran experience to nursing students and new nurses is an essential component in developing a culturally sensitive nursing workforce. The purpose of this article is to describe a theory-driven, experiential learning approach to integrating the Veterans History Project into the curricula for a postbaccalaureate nurse residency program. Participants acknowledged that this educational project better prepared them to care for the veteran population.

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