Nurturing Novice Nurses: Effect of a Nurse Residency Program on Nursing Retention

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Nurse residency programs (NRPs) support new graduates' transition to practice, enhancing job satisfaction and retention.
• Existing research primarily highlights NRP benefits within the first year of nursing practice.
• This study investigates the extended, long-term impact of NRPs at one, two, and three years post-implementation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the longer-term retention effects of nurse residency programs (NRPs) beyond the initial year.
• To compare the 3-year retention rates of nurses in a hospital with a compulsory NRP versus one without.
• To quantify the impact of NRPs on nursing workforce stability and associated costs.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study design was employed.
• Two Midwestern hospitals were compared: one with a 12-month compulsory NRP and one without.
• Data were collected from 2018 to 2020 to mitigate potential academic disruptions from external factors.

Main Results:

• Hospitals with a 12-month compulsory NRP demonstrated a significantly higher 3-year nurse retention rate (55%) compared to hospitals without an NRP (35.2%).
• The findings indicate that NRPs contribute to improved nurse retention and greater workforce stability.
• A notable difference in retention rates suggests a positive correlation between NRPs and long-term nurse commitment.

Conclusions:

• Nurse residency programs (NRPs) are effective in significantly improving new graduate nurse retention and easing the transition from academia to practice.
• Enhanced nurse retention through NRPs can lead to substantial reductions in costly turnover, saving healthcare facilities millions in recruitment and training.
• NRPs represent a cost-effective investment for strengthening the nursing workforce and improving the quality of patient care.