Transition-to-practice programs for newly graduated advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants: a scoping review protocol

Abstract

Objective: The objective of this scoping review is to map the evidence on transition-to-practice programs for newly graduated advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants, and describe how they differ. Additional objectives include summarizing what outcomes are evaluated and what gaps remain within the literature. By consolidating this information, health care administrators may more easily reference transition-to-practice methods to enhance their own programs for advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants.z Introduction: Transition to practice involves 2 program types: onboarding and postgraduate training. However, no existing reviews describe the state of the literature regarding these program types, and how they compare with regard to location, setting, and outcomes. Because transition-to-practice programs may improve workforce outcomes, understanding how these programs differ, and what gaps exist, is needed to help these programs grow. Inclusion criteria: This review will include articles describing transition to practice for advanced practice registered nurses and/or physician assistants, including onboarding and fellowship/residency programs. Articles will be included regardless of geographic location if they take place within a professional, clinical setting. Methods: The scoping review will follow the JBI approach. Databases to be searched include MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Scopus, and Web of Science. All included manuscripts will be screened by two reviewers and relevant data will be extracted. These data will summarize what transition to practice programs are used, how they differ, and what gaps exist.

Nurse practitioner and physician assistant transition to practice: A scoping review of fellowships and onboarding programs

“…This scoping review was conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology for Scoping Reviews. A detailed explanation of the methods was published elsewhere (Batchelder et al, 2022).…”

“…The search strategy aimed to locate published primary studies, systematic reviews, editorials, opinion papers, dissertations/theses, and conference abstracts (Batchelder et al, 2022). The medical librarian identified key search terms by examining keywords from articles found on preliminary searches on our topic.…”

“…The medical librarian identified key search terms by examining keywords from articles found on preliminary searches on our topic. After the search strategy was finalized by test runs and consultation with the entire team (Batchelder et al, 2022), the following databases were searched: MEDLINE (PubMed), CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. A medical librarian was responsible for conducting the search, in consultation with the entire study team.…”

“…The medical librarian identified key search terms by examining keywords from articles found on preliminary searches on our topic. After the search strategy was finalized by test runs and consultation with the entire team (Batchelder et al, 2022)…”

“…All titles and abstracts were screened by one independent reviewer using the inclusion and exclusion criteria (Appendix 2, Supplemental Digital Content 2, http://links. lww.com/JAANP/A236; Batchelder et al, 2022). Next, detailed citations and the full text of all selected articles were retrieved and imported into Covidence.…”