PHOENIX – The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) and the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) have registered the first cohort of the Arizona Transition to Practice Program for New Graduate Registered Nurses.
The 12-month program is designed to support and develop new nurses, provide evidence-based professional development, accelerate the novice nurse to a competent nurse more rapidly, and address resilience and emergency preparedness. AHCCCS contracted with AzHHA to administer and implement the program.
“With the launch of the Transition to Practice Program, Arizona is taking needed steps toward increasing the state’s nursing workforce capacity and competency as quickly as possible,” said Carmen Heredia, AHCCCS CEO. “Since AHCCCS covers more than a quarter of our state’s population, having a robust nursing workforce is critical to our ability to deliver quality health care services.”
The first cohort of the program includes:
“While it is important to increase the number of new nurses in the pipeline, it is also important to retain new nurses in their roles,” said Karen Ofafa, MPH, BSN, RN, CSSBB, CPHQ, director, Transition to Practice Program at AzHHA. “With this program, we aspire to create an environment where our nurses can transition seamlessly from academia to practice, gaining the confidence and competence they need to provide the best possible care to our communities.”
For more information, visit www.azhha.org/transition_to_practice_program.
