The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted nurses transitioning to practice in a variety of ways over the past two years. Analysis from the Versant Database comparing new graduate nurses (NGNs) from 2018-2021 revealed a widened practice gap for NGNs in these specialty areas of practice: critical care, perinatal, and emergency. Additionally, NGNs achieved 100% competency validation sooner in 2020/2021. The analysis also revealed greater diversity of NGNs who participated in a transition to practice (TTP) program in 2020/2021. Based on these findings, this article proposes recommendations for nurse leaders to consider as NGNs transition into the workforce.

In today's fast-paced, highly technical clinical environment, preceptor excellence drives nurses in transition to maintain the levels of energy and motivation they had when they first entered the profession. Whether preceptor or preceptee, education that infuses the professional role with new knowledge and practices can inspire nurses to fully engage in their role. Achieving excellence as a preceptor requires dedicated nurturing through continuing nursing education, where educators understand the importance of their involvement in and commitment to enriching the role of the registered nurse preceptor.

Providing management and support for nurse transition programs requires strong leadership. This article identifies the key knowledge, skills, and attitudes that leaders of nurse residency programs should possess to ensure that the residency achieves program and organizational goals. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2017;48(2):57-59.

This article, the fourth part of the educational design series, addresses how nursing professional development practitioners can meet educational design criterion 4 in the American Nurses Credentialing Center primary accreditation process and standards 4 and 5 in the Association for Nursing Professional Development Nursing Professional Development: Scope and Standards of Practice. J Contin Educ Nurs. 2018;49(4):148-150.