Maryland nursing leaders continue to face severe workforce shortages and new-to-practice nurses are a growing presence. New-to-practice nurses enter the workforce with significant training gaps especially in our current post-pandemic environment. Supporting growth in competence, confidence and professionalism is critical in keeping this nursing demographic in Maryland organizations and in the profession. The Maryland Organization of Nurse Leaders, Inc., Maryland Nurse Residency Collaborative, offers support for the implementation of a standard residency curriculum available for any nurse resident hired to member hospitals. Also, this organization leverages relationships with our academic partners and nursing thought leaders across the state and nation to retain and develop new nurses.

As a nurse educator who also still practices at the bedside, a nurse residency program is a great program that supports new nurses' transition into the nursing profession. This type of program helps new nurses improve their clinical skills to become competent nurses. I wish they had this type of program when I was a new graduate nurse.