The nurse residency program at all 21 hospitals in Northern California recently earned the internationally renowned Practice Transition Accreditation Program® (PTAP) with Distinction from the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

This news had a room full of student nurses, graduates, nurse preceptors, program managers, and local and regional leaders erupting in cheers, whistles, and screams of excitement.  

“Thank you for your blood, your sweat, and your tears, and, most importantly, your heart,” said Carrie Owen Plietz, FACHE, Kaiser Permanente Northern California regional president at the recent announcement.

This recognition validates the higher level of professional nursing practice at Kaiser Permanente, said Benson Yeung, DNP, RN, regional director for Patient Care Services.

Using a standardized evidence-based curriculum, Kaiser Permanente nurse residents, who are newly licensed registered nurses, participate in a collaborative learning environment to successfully transition into clinical practice.

“Our residents are given the opportunity to work alongside experienced staff and learn in acute care clinical settings, so that they are better prepared and more confident as they enter the workforce,” Yeung said. “This is a testament to our culture of nursing excellence, and the incredible support our team provides new nurses.”

The ANCC appraisers lauded the Nurse Residency program for fostering a collaborative and supportive environment. Nurse residents volunteer their time to support their peers. Leadership is readily available and provides personal contact information. Nurse residents are also recognized for their contributions through the DAISY Award program.

New grads remain with Kaiser Permanente

Keoni Gist, BSN, RN, a telemetry nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Richmond, graduated from the one-year nurse residency program in November 2022.

“I feel like I work with a community of people who actually care.”

Gist is now mentoring incoming residents. She says it’s important to her to provide support to residents just as she received when she was in the program.

Quasana Banks, BSN, RN, a medical surgical nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, will graduate from the nurse residency program in the spring.

Banks was motivated to go into nursing after seeing how the nurses at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland took such great care of her grandmother. She realized she wanted to do the same for others.

“This program is exactly what I feel a new nurse graduate needs to learn how to practice safely and be confident with their patient care as well as build the relationships with their fellow colleagues,” she said.

Jessica Richardson, RN, a labor and delivery nurse at Kaiser Permanente in Roseville, graduated from the nurse residency program in May 2022. She said she chose to pursue her nursing career at Kaiser Permanente because of the extensive support provided to nurses.

And she’s not alone. Nurse residency program leaders shared that 92% of nurse residency graduates remain with Kaiser Permanente after one year, compared to the national average of just 62%.

“I feel like Kaiser Permanente really does take care of you,” she said. “The resources they provide you, the community of nurses they have. The managers are so well-versed and supportive.”