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

Abstract

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. Transition to practice involves two 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. 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. The scoping review will follow the JBI approach. Databases to be searched include MEDLINE (via 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.