Nurse Practitioner Role Transition Within an Advanced Practice Fellowship: Educational and Clinical Recommendations.

Abstract

The high demand for specialty nurse practitioners (NPs) in the United States requires successful transition to their advanced practice roles and workplaces. Greater attention to the transitional period for advanced practice nurses has urged health care organizations and employers to implement fellowship training programs for NPs. NP fellowships continue to gain popularity among novice NPs to ensure optimal transition into their new role. The grounded theory, Navigating the Pathway to Advanced Practice, explains the process NPs undergo to transition into a clinician role through the structure of a fellowship. Generation of this theory discovered best practices in support of NPs during role transition within fellowships. This article provides nurse leaders with meaningful and evidence-based recommendations to facilitate NP role transition in educational and clinical environments.