A turnover prevention program for child care workers: a failed effort?

This study describes efforts to reduce turnover of child care workers, one of the many activities undertaken within the Milieu Enhancement Project. This 3-year endeavor, funded by the Division of Nursing of the Department of Health and Human Services, allowed nurses to provide care for orphaned and disadvantaged children, test the value of a nursing practice model, analyze the cost-benefit and the cost-effectiveness of the project, computerize existing and model-derived health care records, and allow faculty and graduate students to practice autonomously in a nontraditional setting. The research question was: What is causing job dissatisfaction in child care workers? Nurses and social workers used the Milieu Enhancement Model to conceptualize, address, and evaluate factors contributing to turnover. While statistical significance was not obtained in the turnover rates before and after implementation of the Turnover Prevention Program, the milieu was enhanced in many ways. Data are presented to support many aspects of the program's success.