Differences in Peer Social Connections Between Traditional and Online Nurse Residency Programs

Author

Tatum Leonard, Abilene Christian UniversityFollow

Campus Location

Dallas Campus (Online)

Date of Award

9-2025

Document Type

Dissertation

Department

Organizational Leadership

Degree Name

Doctor of Education

Committee Chair or Primary Advisor

Cecilia Hegamin-Younger

Second Committee Member or Secondary Advisor

Tim Atkinson

Third Committee Member or Committee Reader

Carlos Contreras

Abstract

The anticipated retirement of baby boomer nurses by 2030 will intensify the global nursing shortage, a crisis that demands innovative strategies for onboarding and retaining new graduate nurses. Nurse residency programs (NRPs) are designed to ease the transition from student to practicing nurse, reduce turnover, and foster professional resilience. Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, many NRPs rapidly transitioned from traditional, in-person seminars to synchronous, online formats. This study explored differences in peer social connections between traditional and online NRPs, focusing on three constructs: sense of community, collaborative learning, and peer social support. Using a quasi-experimental, mixed methods approach, this secondary data analysis examined survey responses and open-ended qualitative comments from 209 nurse residents at a large healthcare system in the southwestern United States. Quantitative analysis revealed no statistically significant differences between groups in terms of peer social outcomes. However, qualitative findings offered important nuance, with residents in both formats describing the importance of peer encouragement, structured group interactions, and opportunities for shared emotional processing. Online participants highlighted the value of breakout rooms and virtual bonding activities, while traditional participants emphasized face-to-face camaraderie. Across both formats, night shift schedules and age influenced perceived social connection more than the residency modality itself. Findings suggest that well-structured online NRPs can replicate core elements of community and collaboration found in traditional formats. The study informs best practices for virtual nurse onboarding and highlights the importance of intentional design in fostering peer relationships. These insights can guide future policy and program development to ensure NRPs remain adaptable, equitable, and effective in preparing new nurses for professional practice.

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.

Recommended Citation

Leonard, Tatum, "Differences in Peer Social Connections Between Traditional and Online Nurse Residency Programs" (2025). Digital Commons @ ACU, Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 945.
https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/etd/945