title: Improving the retention rate of newly graduated nurses.
abstract: Newly graduated nurses often finish orientation and then believe they still need more support and mentoring than is available. Retention rates suffer as they think it must be better elsewhere. This article reports a community hospital's implementation of an education-based preceptor program. A convenience sample of 40 new graduates participated in the study. Qualitative and quantitative findings indicate a high level of satisfaction (mean visual analogue scale score 93.7), 29% increase in retention, and 9.5% decrease in vacancy.
authors.affiliation: Professional Development Department, Jordan Hospital, 275 Sandwich Street, Plymouth, MA 02360, USA. palmada@jordanhospital.org
authors.forename: Pam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Almada
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Carafoli
authors.forename: John B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Flattery
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Mary
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: McNamara
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008611:Mentors / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration*; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014707:Vermont