Search was done in PubMed and Joanna Briggs using these search terms: new graduate nurses AND (transition OR residency OR internship).

Bottom Line: Literature search revealed very broad time line in nurse residency from 6 weeks to one year  and time by (department or area not discussed).
Park, Mihyun, and Cheryl B Jones. A retention strategy for newly graduated nurses: an integrative review of orientation programs. Journal for nurses in staff development 26.4 (2010):142-149.  See TABLE 1 The Summary of Program Outcomes

Holland, Cindra, and Gail RModdeman. Transforming the journey for newly licensed registered nurses. The Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing 43.7 (2012):330-336.

Kramer, Marlene, et al. The organizational transformative power of nurse residency programs. Nursing administration quarterly 36.2 (2012):155-168.

Purling, Amy, and LindyKing. A literature review: Graduate nurses’ preparedness for recognising and responding to the deteriorating patient. Journal of clinical nursing 21.23-24 (2012):3451-3465.

The effectiveness of strategies and interventions that aim to assist the transition from student to newly qualified nurse. (Systematic Review). The JBI Library of Systematic Reviews & Implementation Reports. 9(53):2215-2323, 2011.

More references from PubMed