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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s Nurse Residency Program Recognized for Excellence

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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s New Graduate Nurse Residency Program received “Accreditation with Distinction” for the second consecutive time by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP).

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Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Nursing group receiving the news of the recognition.

This is ANCC’s highest-possible level of recognition, and Shirley Ryan AbilityLab is the only rehabilitation hospital to earn this distinction twice in a row.

Also, the program — which supports newly licensed nurses in their first year of professional clinical practice — is one of just nine in Illinois to receive this honor from ANCC PTAP in 2024.

Regarded as the global standard of excellence for nurse residency programs, ANCC PTAP’s review includes assessments of organizations’ integration of national competencies, adherence to evidence-based practices, and commitment to the support and well-being of newly licensed nurses.

In the 2024 review, ANCC noted specific strengths of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab’s residency program, including an emphasis on collaboration with the interdisciplinary team, opportunities for nursing career advancement and robust faculty onboarding processes.

Established in 2009, the New Graduate Nurse Residency Program comprises several parts:

  • Participants engage in practice-based learning experiences alongside preceptors and mentors.
  • They join a six-month class series on topics including team-building; participate in self-care sessions facilitated by Shirley Ryan AbilityLab chaplains; and benefit from opportunities to network with leaders from across the organization.
  • Residents complete the program with a research project and an opportunity to share findings with the Nursing Practice Council.

“This program helps new nurses transition into practice and shows our commitment to excellence in the nursing profession by supporting our team’s career goals in patient care, education and research,” said Karen Colby, RN, vice president and chief nursing officer.

New Graduate Nurse Residency Program: How to Apply

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The New Graduate Nurse Residency Program accepts applicants on a rolling admissions basis. More information — including an application link — is here.

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