Transitional orientation: a cost-effective alternative to traditional RN residency programs

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Management
• Human Resources in Healthcare

Background:

• High recruitment, orientation, and development costs for inexperienced registered nurses (RNs) impact hospital budgets.
• Ensuring competent nursing care is a challenge due to the need for effective and efficient RN development.
• Hospitals require cost-effective strategies to onboard and retain newly qualified nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a multifaceted development methodology, the Transitional Orientation Program, to address RN development and retention challenges.
• To evaluate the impact of a specialized clinical educator role, the intern development specialist (IDS), on nursing staff development.
• To determine the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of a structured orientation program for inexperienced RNs.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the Transitional Orientation Program at Lee Memorial Health System (LMHS).
• Establishment of dedicated intern development specialist (IDS) positions to support new RNs.
• Focus on intensive development for transitional unit interns and other inexperienced RNs.

Main Results:

• Significant reduction in total orientation times for new RNs.
• Demonstrable decrease in the overall costs associated with nursing orientation.
• Dramatic increase in the retention rates of inexperienced RNs within the health system.

Conclusions:

• The Transitional Orientation Program, supported by intern development specialists, is an effective strategy for developing competent RNs.
• This multifaceted approach significantly improves the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of nursing orientation.
• The program positively impacts RN retention, addressing a critical challenge in healthcare staffing.