Bridging the Gap Between Acute Care Nurse Practitioner Education and Practice: The Need for Postgraduate Residency Programs

The dearth of specialty training in graduate programs for acute care nurse practitioners (ACNPs) has created a gap between education and practice. The demand in hospitals for ACNPs has risen dramatically across the board. Concerns for patient safety and lowered overall satisfaction with care have led many hospitals to use ACNPs as a solution to the reduction of house staff. However, a lack of specialized training could jeopardize the ability of ACNPs to embrace this opportunity. Postgraduate residency programs could provide formal, mentored, and specialized training over the course of a year, preparing ACNPs to step up to the challenge.