Enhancing knowledge and self-confidence of novice nurses: The "Shadow-A-Nurse" ICU program.

The nursing shortage in the United States has resulted in a need for newly graduated novice nurses to rapidly transition into the nursing workforce. Although some nursing schools provide clinical experience in the intensive care unit (ICU), many novice nurses are not confident about their skills in providing critical-care nursing. To assist novice nurses in rapidly transitioning into the ICU nurse role, an innovative internship program for novice nurses was designed and implemented. A pilot study was conducted to determine if working with experienced nurses in the ICU environment, in addition to formal education and skills training in critical-care nursing, enables novice nurses to effectively transition into the role of ICU nurse. Qualitative and quantitative results of the program after the second year are discussed.