New graduate nurse transition programs and clinical leadership skills in novice RNs.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to determine predictors of clinical leadership skill (CLS) for RNs with 24 months of clinical experience or less.


BACKGROUND
New graduate nurse transition programs (NGNTPs) have been proposed as a strategy to increase CLS. CLS is associated with positive patient outcomes.


METHODS
Method used was hierarchical regression modeling to evaluate predictors of CLS among individual characteristics of RNs and characteristics of NGNTPs.


RESULTS
Perceived overall quality of an NGNTP was the strongest predictor of CLS (R = 0.041, P < .01). Clinical experience and NGNTP characteristics accounted for 6.9% of the variance in CLS and 12.6% of the variance among RNs with assigned mentors (P < .01). RNs participating in NGNTPs for more than 24 weeks were 21 times more likely to remain employed within the organization when compared with NGNTPs of 12 weeks or less, a significant cost-benefit to the organization.


CONCLUSIONS
Although perceived overall quality of a NGNTP was the strongest predictor of CLS, much of the variance in CLS remains unexplained.
Author Affiliations: Vice President (Dr Chappell), American Nurses Credentialing Center, Silver Spring, Maryland; University Professor and Assistant Dean (Dr Richards), Doctoral Programs and Research Development, School of Nursing, College of Health and Human Services, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia; Statistician (Dr Barnett), James A. Haley Veterans Hospital, Tampa, Florida.
Kathy B
KB
Chappell
Kathy C
KC
Richards
Scott D
SD
Barnett
D000328:Adult; D019985:Benchmarking / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D007857:Leadership; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013192:Staff Development / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult