JAMES NURSE RESIDENCY PROGRAM GAINS ACCREDITATION WITH DISTINCTION

The James Cancer Hospital/Vizient Nurse Residency Program has been awarded a three-year Accreditation with Distinction by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s (ANCC) Practice Transition Accreditation Program (PTAP)™.

The news was delivered in an Oct. 31 phone call from Sheryl Cosme, senior manager of operations of the PTAP, and in a letter from Jann T. Balmer, PhD, MSN, chair of the Commission on Accreditation, who called it “the highest recognition awarded by the ANCC’s Accreditation Program.”

The ANCC PTAP sets the global standard for residency or fellowship programs that transition registered nurses (RNs) and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) into new practice settings that meet evidence-based standards for quality and excellence.

The ANCC accredits transition programs for RN residencies (for nurses with less than a year of experience), RN fellowships (for experienced nurses to master new clinical settings) and APRN fellowships (for newly certified advanced practice nurses).

The James’ nurse residency program is one of only four programs in Ohio—and one of only two in central Ohio—with PTAP accreditation. The accreditation extends through Jan. 31, 2022.

In her letter, Balmer wrote that the Commission on Accreditation “acknowledges your commitment to lifelong learning and commends you on achieving accreditation.”

Colleen O’Leary, MSN, RN, AOCNS, associate director of nursing education at The James, says nurses spent six months preparing the nearly 700-page accreditation application document.

Kris Kipp, MSN, RN, OSUCCC – James executive director of patient services and chief nursing officer, called the accreditation “a wonderful testimony to our commitment to patient care excellence and staff support.”

The nurse residency program at The James began in 2013. Residents in the program are placed within the hospital in these areas: medical oncology, surgical oncology, acute leukemia, hematology, blood and marrow transplant, oncology critical care (including the medical ICU, surgical ICU and Neuro ICU), progressive care, and oncology emergency services.