Beebe Healthcare Achieves Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) Designation
Beebe Healthcare has been awarded the prestigious Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP) designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC). Beebe Healthcare’s Graduate Nurse Residency Program reflects the organization’s commitment to providing high-quality education and support for newly licensed registered nurses as they transition into professional practice.
The Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP), offered by the ANCC, sets the standard for nurse residency programs. Accredited programs are recognized for their ability to foster professional development and improve the quality of patient care. PTAP accreditation is the gold standard for transition-to-practice programs. It signifies that Beebe Healthcare’s nurse residency program meets prescriptive national standards and demonstrates excellence in advancing nursing competence, confidence, and professional development.
“By achieving PTAP accreditation, we validate our commitment in supporting the next generation of nurses and ensuring they are well-prepared to deliver exceptional patient care,” said Karen Pickard, DNP, RN, CNE, NEA-BC, Director of Clinical Professional Development.
The accreditation process has been a year-long journey. The Nurse Residency Program Director attended workshops and began collecting data in preparation for submission. Once the program was deemed to be eligible, a 500-page self-study report with a detailed curriculum, graduate nurse testimonials, and outcomes was submitted, as well as a graduate survey and virtual site visit.
According to ANCC, the program’s strengths include nursing leadership engagement and involvement of the Chief Nurse Executive, direct academic affiliation with Beebe’s Margaret H. Rollins School of Nursing, as well as other Delaware schools of nursing, which supports recruitment, transition to practice, and assimilation into the organization. ANCC also highlighted the use of simulation with interprofessional collaboration used to support team-based learning and clinical care. Best practices also recognized were the utilization of the standardized assessments for the evaluation of graduate nursing knowledge and critical thinking, and the incorporation of the Association of Perioperative Nurses (AORN) in the program curriculum.
“We extend our gratitude to Laura Smith, Graduate Nurse Residency Program Director, and our dedicated team of clinical educators, whose passion and hard work have made this achievement possible,” Pickard said. “We also thank the entire Clinical Education team and Nursing Leadership team at Beebe for their guidance and support during the accreditation journey. Most notably, the team members who make this program a success are the Beebe nurses who serve as preceptors and mentors for our new graduate nurses.”
Caption from left to right: Back Row: Corey Kennedy, Megan Roy, Mykayla Scott, Shannon Biddle. Middle: Karen Pickard, Kelly Wargo, Stephanie Steele, Nicole Murray, Samantha Carrier, Meghan McKenna, Heather Patterson, Rebecca Spraker. Front: Laura Smith & Dawn Snyder.