University of Maryland Medical Center Nurse Residency Program Earns Prestigious National Accreditation

July 12, 2023

The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) Nurse Residency Program has earned full accreditation from the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE), a leading nationally-recognized accreditation agency that sets coveted standards for excellence in nursing education. The medical center's 12-month Entry-to-Practice program for new registered nurses (RNs) will hold the full designation for five years, CCNE's highest recognition possible for an initial accreditation.

This achievement follows a rigorous evaluation of UMMC's program designed to build upon knowledge acquired in the academic setting and further cultivate the technical and clinical decision-making skills needed to achieve a successful transition into nursing practice. The UMMC Nurse Residency Program is one of only three in Maryland to be certified by CCNE.

"The first year of professional practice is a significant transition for new nurses and a period of exponential growth, therefore continued education, mentorship and support is vital," said UMMC Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer Karen Doyle, DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC, FAAN. "This accreditation is a testament, not only to our deep-seated commitment to investing in the professional competency of our nursing graduates, but to our unwavering dedication to superb patient care."

For the team of UMMC Nursing leaders and managers who developed the residency program, meeting CCNE's key standards was an important opportunity to further validate the medical center's longstanding culture of continuous improvement and lifelong learning in an evidence-based, dynamic, collaborative work environment. In addition to fine tuning technical skills, the program focuses on the soft skills essential for excellence in nursing, utilizing guidelines established by the Vizient/American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) nurse residency program as a framework.

"CCNE sets a high bar, so it's incredibly affirming to secure this national distinction, particularly during such an extraordinary period of expansion and integration here at UMMC, on top of the unprecedented challenges posed by the pandemic," said Robin Price, MSN, RN, manager of the Nurse Residency Program and manager of Nurse Retention at UMMC. "I am overwhelmed by the amount of dedication and hard work that produced such an incredible result of full accreditation. Of course, the most rewarding part is that our nurse residents who learn, work and grow through our accredited program will positively impact patient outcomes."

Graduates of the Nurse Residency Program say it has benefits far beyond a seamless transition. The program helps build a solid foundation for a nursing career at UMMC.

"During COVID, it gave me a place to talk about my experiences with my cohort and remember that we are all in this together," said Tyarra Rodgers-Nelson, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, a senior clinical nurse in UMMC's Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit. "The residency program taught us about professional development, which led me to join the cardiac nurse fellowship."

Pictured above: Tyarra Rodgers-Nelson, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC, who completed the UMMC Nurse Residency Program in 2021.

"Because of my accomplishments, it's important that I give back and help new graduate nurses transition to the field of nursing happily and successfully, as I was once in their shoes," said Rodgers-Nelson. "It's rewarding to see my residency group developing their nursing intuition, becoming more competent and confident as health care providers and bonding with their coworkers during our sessions."

Throughout the lengthy accreditation process, UMMC's strong academic partnership with the University of Maryland School of Nursing played a central role. The deep collaboration between the two institutions promotes continuous development for professional nurses through innovative research opportunities, practice and education geared toward optimizing health care outcomes.

National accolades are not new for UMMC Nursing. In 2019, the medical center's Downtown Campus earned its third consecutive Magnet designation, the highest honor awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) for nursing excellence. This year, UMMC will apply for its fourth Magnet designation as one unified nursing department across its Downtown Campus and Midtown Campus.

For more information on the University of Maryland Medical Center Nurse Residency Program, visit https://www.umms.org/ummc/pros/nursing/education/nurse-residency.