Problem Statement: Programs to facilitate Nurse Practitioner (NP) transition to practice have been developed at public and private institutions across the US and there is no published evidence of their influence on NP job satisfaction.

Heart failure (HF) is increasing in prevalence. Patient education is essential and is included in both ambulatory and hospital performance measures used to ensure quality care. Nurses are often the primary providers of education to patients with HF. This study assessed nurses' knowledge of basic principles of HF self-management. The study surveyed 49 nurses who regularly provided care to patients with HF at a hospital in the southeastern United States. A 20-item, true/false survey was administered to participants. Mean HF self-management knowledge score was 15.97 (79.85% correct). Consistent with previous studies, nurses scored lowest on knowledge related to transient dizziness (16.3% answered correctly), daily weight monitoring (36.2% answered correctly), and asymptomatic hypotension (58.3% answered correctly). Findings confirm previous work suggesting that nurses may not be adequately prepared to educate patients with HF about self-management.

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Nurse executives should be familiar with postgraduate nurse practitioner training programs. Supplemental training opportunities are gaining popularity across the country and are primarily funded by employers interested in recruiting and retaining qualified healthcare professionals. There is considerable variability in program learning objectives, clinical content, and titles used to describe participants' roles. This article offers program descriptions, associated costs, and a call for evidence of their impact on a growing constituent of the healthcare workforce.