Perceptions and Lived Experiences of Nurses After Completion of a Perinatal Nurse Residency Program

Background: This study was designed to explore the perceptions and lived experiences of new graduate or new-to-specialty labor and delivery nurses. These nurses had completed a perinatal nurse residency program at a high-risk metropolitan medical center in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. Method: Eight nurses were interviewed for this study with qualitative individual interviews. Qualitative content analysis was used. Results: Three main themes emerged: assimilating a specialized knowledge base and skill sets, navigating challenging circumstances, and coping with the transition to independence. Conclusion: Nurse residency programs can ease the transition to practice in the labor and delivery specialty. Revisions to future perinatal residency programs should include enhanced preceptor education, prolonged night shift orientation, assessment of nurse learning style and needs, and increased consistency of debriefing after traumatic events. [ J Contin Educ Nurs. 202x;5x(x):xx–xx.]