The Nurse Residency Education Navigator: Educator, Facilitator, and Clinician

Our health care system hired 105 newly graduated nurses during a 12-month period. The challenge of how to integrate and subsequently retain this large volume of nurses within a relatively short time frame was apparent. Therefore, the position of education navigator was created. The education navigator mirrors the traditional nurse navigator by expediting the transition of newly graduated nurses from novice to competent nurses via the roles of educator, facilitator, and clinician. When nurses have mentors and leaders they can trust and rely on for support and guidance, an organizational culture is created where performance is optimized, and staff are retained. The supportive culture influences the work environment, clinical practice, and education. As educators, it is imperative we act as mentors to our new nurses not only to retain them but to help them grow professionally. The education navigator role provides newly graduated nurses with a support system that leads to increased retention and professional development. [J Contin Educ Nurs. 2021;52(2):79-84.].