This designation confirms what we already know. Our nurses are supported by a strong foundation from day one.
Paula B. Seaman, MSN, DA, RN, CENPAlice Peck Day Memorial Hospital (APD), a member of Dartmouth Health, has earned national recognition for its commitment to supporting newly licensed nurses as they transition into professional practice. The American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) officially awarded APD’s Nurse Residency Program with the Practice Transition Accreditation Program® (PTAP) designation on May 19, 2025.
APD is the first hospital in New Hampshire and only the second within the Dartmouth Health system, following Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, to receive PTAP accreditation. This distinction reflects APD’s deep commitment to preparing new nurses for clinical success and long-term career growth.
“This designation confirms what we already know. Our nurses are supported by a strong foundation from day one,” said Paula B. Seaman, MSN, DA, RN, CENP, APD's chief nursing officer. “ANCC PTAP is the gold standard for nurse residency programs, and achieving this recognition demonstrates that APD meets rigorous national standards designed to improve nurse development and retention. APD’s culture of caring and partnership makes this possible.”
The accreditation followed a year-long process led by Emily K. Forstrom, MSN, RN, MEDSURG-BC, clinical nurse educator. APD submitted a detailed self-study with examples of how the program meets more than 30 ANCC standards. The designation reflects the experience of two groups of new graduate nurses who began their careers at APD in July 2023 and July 2024.
“Our residents tell us this program helped them feel confident, capable, and truly part of the team,” said Forstrom. “It’s incredibly rewarding to know we’re giving new nurses the start they need to succeed and stay in the profession.”
ANCC recognized several strengths of APD’s program, including meaningful leadership engagement, strong preceptor support, and a collaborative, close-knit culture that prioritizes both safety and skill development.
“We are on the cutting edge of nursing excellence as a health system and this national accreditation recognizes the expertise of our team,” said Susan A. Reeves, EdD, RN, CENP, system chief nursing executive at Dartmouth Health. “It’s a testament to the talent and dedication of our nurses, and the collaborative spirit that defines APD. When our nurses excel, so does our health system.”
As an ANCC-accredited provider of continuing professional development, APD remains committed to advancing the nursing profession at every level. Many residency graduates choose to remain at APD well beyond their first year, pursue certifications, and become mentors for future participants, extending the program’s impact across the organization.
This accomplishment reflects the dedication and collaboration of many, including: Forstrom; Sarah R. Johnston, MSN, RN, CENP, CCRN, APD's director of medical-surgical services; APD’s expert preceptors; the nurse residents, whose insights and commitment helped shape the program; and Amanda B. Fay, MSN, RN, who served as the initial program director and helped launch this journey.
Achieving PTAP accreditation reflects APD's unwavering commitment to fostering a supportive environment where nurses thrive, contributing to a culture of excellence in patient care.
About Dartmouth Health
Dartmouth Health, New Hampshire’s only academic health system and the state’s largest private employer, serves patients across northern New England. Dartmouth Health provides access to more than 2,000 providers in almost every area of medicine, delivering care at its flagship hospital, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (DHMC) in Lebanon, NH, as well as across its wide network of hospitals, clinics and care facilities. DHMC is consistently named the #1 hospital in New Hampshire by U.S. News & World Report, and is recognized for high performance in numerous clinical specialties and procedures. Dartmouth Health includes Dartmouth Cancer Center, one of only 57 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the nation, and the only such center in northern New England; Dartmouth Health Children’s, which includes the state’s only children’s hospital and multiple locations around the region; member hospitals in Lebanon, Keene, Claremont and New London, NH, and Windsor and Bennington, VT; Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire; and more than 24 clinics that provide ambulatory and specialty services across New Hampshire and Vermont. Through its historical partnership with Dartmouth and the Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth Health trains nearly 400 medical residents and fellows annually, and performs cutting-edge research and clinical trials recognized across the globe with Geisel and the White River Junction VA Medical Center in White River Junction, VT. Dartmouth Health and its more than 13,000 employees are deeply committed to serving the healthcare needs of everyone in our communities, and to providing each of our patients with exceptional, personal care.