As of April 2023, and designated in A.R.S. § 36-1804, AHCCCS contracted with the Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) as a consultant to assist with the administration and implementation of a registered nurse Arizona Transition to Practice Program to support and develop new nurses, provide evidence-based professional development, accelerate the novice nurse to a competent nurse more rapidly, and address resilience and emergency preparedness.
Deadline to apply for the cohort starting in June 2024 is Thursday, April 25, 2024.
About the program
AzHHA has partnered with a national vendor, OpusVi (Latin for workforce), who has developed a transition to practice program that enables healthcare systems and organizations to upskill and retain top talent, to implement a statewide 12-month Arizona Transition to Practice Program. This program will provide new nurses with structure and additional support beyond their clinical immersion needed to facilitate their transition into the workforce.
New graduate nurse 12-month pathway
Program goals
With this program, we aspire to create an environment where our nurses can transition seamlessly from academia to practice, gaining confidence and competence they need to provide the best possible quality care to our communities. To reach this goal, the program will:
- Provide evidence-based professional development.
- Accelerate the novice nurse to a competent nurse more rapidly.
- Increase confidence and promote independent practice in the new nurse.
- Address resilience and emergency preparedness.
- Decrease turnover and increase retention.
Eligibility
Any Arizona healthcare facility licensed by the Arizona Department of Health Services that hires new graduate registered nurses can apply to the Arizona Transition to Practice Program. However, hospitals with existing 12-month Transition to Practice programs are not eligible.
What you need to know:
- Priority will be given to critical access hospitals or hospitals located in counties with a population of less than 500,000 people.
- Participation in the program is voluntary, and there is no cost to join.
- The monies provided under the program are intended to supplement and not supplant existing transition to practice training program expenses covered by the participating healthcare institutions.
Read more about the benefits of this program.
How it works
Step 1: Apply for the program on this page.
Step 2: If you are selected as a participating facility, you will:
- Enroll eligible new graduate nurses into the program.
- Receive implementation support from AzHHA and OpusVi customized to your organization.
Step 3: Launch of the program for your nurses and staff. New graduate nurses from various facilities across the state will be enrolled into a cohort with peers hired at the same time. The program will include:
- AzHHA and OpusVi supporting preceptor development training, onboarding, and training for mentor and educators, and site coordinator/program facilitator training.
- Your enrolled new graduate nurses participate in the 12-month program that includes clinical preceptorship and monthly reflection groups.
- Each new graduate nurse also must participate in surveys at pre-determined intervals.
- New graduates and preceptors receiving continuing education as appropriate.
- Mentors and preceptors receive stipends upon meeting eligibility criteria.
Arizona Transition to Practice Program - Key dates
Participating facilities
See the complete list of facilities currently participating in the Arizona Transition to Practice Program.
Program contact information
Karen Ofafa MPH, BSN, RN, CSSBB, CPHQ
Director, Transition to Practice Program
[email protected]
602-445-4337
Rachel Breslauer, MSN-Ed, RN
Manager, Transition to Practice Program
[email protected]
602-445-4301
Whitney Jackson
Program Support Specialist
[email protected]
602-445-4320