Graduate Nurse Residency Program Update

Celebrating a major success—thanks to you!

Panda Express® associates met kids like Kutter Shed (and his little sister) who benefited from the physical and occupational therapy suite.

Over the past several years, Baylor Scott & White has scaled up its efforts to address a nationwide nursing shortage that began in 2012 and was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. With your support, the Graduate Nurse Residency Program (GNRP) has made incredible progress toward rebuilding the nursing workforce.

Newly graduated nurses (GNs) face a unique and often overwhelming learning curve during their first year of practice. Accredited by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, the GNRP provides additional education and mentorship opportunities to equip GNs with the knowledge, skills and support they need to confidently fulfill their roles and reduce turnover rates for first-year nurses.

The GNs begin their practice in a variety of settings throughout our System, including ambulatory care, inpatient care, the emergency department and the operating room. More than 120 nursing development professionals are involved in helping these GNs make the transition to nursing practice, including an assigned clinical coach to guide GNs through obtaining the skills needed for their chosen specialty.

With your help, the GNRP welcomed 1,426 newly graduated nurses in 2022 and is on track to add over 1,000 more in 2023. With a first-year nurse retention rate of 89%, the program has helped to reduce the nurse vacancy rate at Baylor Scott & White from 18-20% during the height of the pandemic to just 4-5% at the time of publication.

As the population over age 65 grows, the GNRP will continue to play a crucial role in meeting the ever-increasing need for nursing professionals. Your continued support is a worthy investment in the future of healthcare.

The GNRP supports nurses in every Baylor Scott & White service area. To learn how you can help, please contact your regional foundation representative or visit CTXFoundation.BSWHealth.com/Nursing.