This Project reports perceptions of how a new nurse residency addresses essential nursing competencies and transition stress. This Project involved development of content for a new graduate nurse residency program. Part of the Project evaluation was answering the questions: Does knowledge level of the Quality, Safety and Education for Nurses’ competencies at a Midwest critical access hospital increase for program evaluators after review of the content in the developed new graduate residency program? Is the content presented in the five modules relevant to new graduate nurse needs at the Midwest critical access hospital in order to decrease transition stress in the acute care setting? The Project involved program coordination and development. Content of the new graduate residency program was evaluated through surveys completed by 11 Program evaluators. The findings conclude the developed program may assist in reducing new nurse transition stress, and assist in the development of new nurse competency.