Evaluating an innovative program to improve new nurse graduate socialization into the acute healthcare setting.
OBJECTIVE
New nurse graduates experience a stressful role transition into healthcare organizations, with 30% leaving their first job within 1 year and 57% leaving by 2 years of employment.


OBJECTIVE
This study tests whether an internship program, Social and Professional Reality Integration for Nurse Graduates (SPRING), improves new nurse graduate retention, sense of belonging, organizational commitment, and anticipated turnover.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental, posttest only, control group design.


METHODS
New nurse graduates hired by an academic institution that completed SPRING were compared with baseline nurse graduates who did not complete SPRING, using the Organizational Commitment Questionnaire, Modified Hagerty-Patusky Sense of Belonging Instrument, and Anticipated Turnover Scale. Retention was also examined.


RESULTS
Anticipated Turnover was higher for baseline nurses than for 6-month SPRING nurses. Six-month SPRING nurses have lower antecedent sense of belonging than baseline or 12-month SPRING nurses. One-year retention is higher for SPRING new graduates than for non-SPRING new graduates.


CONCLUSIONS
Internship programs for nurse graduates must support the socialization of nurses and their transition into the professional role as well as teach the skills and knowledge needed for competence. This study supports the value of a comprehensive program for new nurse graduates in improving nurse retention and decreasing new nurse graduate intent to leave the organization at 6 months.
Newhouse
Robin P
RP
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. rnewhou1@son.jhmi.edu
Hoffman
Janice J
JJ
Suflita
Jeannette
J
Hairston
Dorna P
DP
D000208:Acute Disease / Q000451:nursing; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D030141:Feedback, Psychological; D006801:Humans; D007397:Internship, Nonmedical / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D024802:Nurse's Role / Q000523:psychology; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010558:Personnel Loyalty; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D011231:Preceptorship / Q000458:organization & administration; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012944:Social Support; D012951:Socialization; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires