title: The impact of residency programs on new nurse graduates' clinical decision-making and leadership skills: a systematic review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Health care institutions have adapted residency programs to help new graduate nurses to become fully competent and transition from a student nurse to an independent practicing nurse and a bedside leader.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The study's aim is to review the literature on the impact of residency programs on new graduate nurses' clinical decision-making and leadership skills.
  
  
  METHODS
  An electronic search was conducted between 1980 and 2013 using databases of the scientific literature in Medline, PubMed, Cochrane EPOC, Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature database guide (CINAHL), and PsychInfo using a range of keywords. Information gathered was evaluated for relevance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen studies that met the inclusion criteria were used in this systematic review. In several studies considered in this review, residency programs were developed to improve new graduates skills and promote their transition into the nursing workforce. In fact, the transition programs reduced turnover in that first year of practice and promoted professional growth of the new graduate such as hand-on nursing skills, clinical decision-making and leadership skills, satisfaction, and retention.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a need for effective residency programs that are designed to prepare new graduate nurses in providing safe, competent and effective patient care.
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, School of Nursing, MS: 3C4, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030-4444, USA. Electronic address: raldossa@masonlive.gmu.edu.
authors.forename: Reem
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: AL-Dossary
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, Department of Health Administration and Policy, MS: 1J3, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030-4444, USA. Electronic address: pkitsant@gmu.edu.
authors.forename: Panagiota
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kitsantas
authors.affiliation: George Mason University, Department of Health Administration and Policy, MS: 1J3, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, VA 22030-4444, USA. Electronic address: pmaddox@gmu.edu.
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Maddox
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003657:Decision Making; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical; D007857:Leadership; D014481:United States
keywords: Clinical leadership; Decision-making; New graduate nurse; Residency programs