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Newly Licensed RN Retention: Hospital and Nurse Characteristics
Mary A Blegen1, Nancy Spector, Mary R Lynn
1Author Affiliations: Professor Emerita (Dr Blegen), School of Nursing, University of California, San Francisco; Director Regulatory Innovations (Dr Spector), National Council of State Boards of Nursing, Chicago; Professor (Dr Lynn), School of Nursing, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill; Senior Partner (Dr Ulrich), Innovative Health Resources, Houston, Texas; and Professor (Dr Ulrich), University of Texas Health Science, School of Nursing, Houston; and Professor Emerita (Dr Barnsteiner), School of Nursing, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Objectives:
The aims of this study were to examine the relationship between 1-year retention of newly licensed RNs (NLRNs) employed in hospitals and personal and hospital characteristics, and determine which characteristics had the most influence.
Methods:
A secondary analysis of data collected in a study of transition to practice was used to describe the retention of 1464 NLRNs employed by 97 hospitals in 3 states. Hospitals varied in size, location (urban and rural), Magnet® designation, and university affiliation. The NLRNs also varied in education, age, race, gender, and experience.
Results:
The overall retention rate at 1 year was 83%. Retention of NLRNs was higher in urban areas and in Magnet hospitals. The only personal characteristic that affected retention was age, with younger nurses more likely to stay.
Conclusion:
Hospital characteristics had a larger effect on NLRN retention than personal characteristics. Hospitals in rural areas have a particular challenge in retaining NLRNs.
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