Date of Award
4-4-2025
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
School Name
Donna and Allan Lansing School of Nursing and Health Sciences
Department
Nursing
Major Advisor
Dr. Heather Owens
Abstract
Transitioning to independent practice presents challenges for advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) new to primary care. This quality improvement project addressed gaps in training and support through a structured Transition to Primary Care Practice (TTPCP) program across multiple primary care clinics in the southeastern United States. Over 12 months, the program provided weekly didactic sessions, monthly specialty rotations, and bi-weekly feedback. Guided by the Plan-Do-Study-Act framework, the initiative tracked structure, process, and outcome measures. Among 20 participants, attendance and schedule ramp-up reached 100%. Knowledge scores improved by 44%, and self-assessments increased by 23%. All assessed participants were rated Proficient or higher at 12 months. These findings support the integration of structured transition programs to enhance APRN readiness, retention, and care quality.
Recommended Citation
Baker, Melissa R., "APRN Transition to Primary Care Practice Program: A Quality Improvement Project" (2025). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Capstones. 195.
https://scholarworks.bellarmine.edu/tdc/195