Nurse residency programs for new graduate nurses

According to the World Health Organization, there is a global shortage of approximately 5.9 million nurses. To address this shortage, new graduate nurses are essential; however, a significant proportion of new graduate nurses leave their initial job within a year of employment. 

A comparative review indicates varying turnover rates among new graduate nurses within the first 12 months of employment across different countries. The United States experiences a turnover rate of approximately 26.8%, while Canada, New Zealand, and Australia have rates of 19.9%, 44.3%, and 15.1% respectively. Burnout, excessive stress, and feeling overwhelmed in the early stages of their nursing career contribute to the decision of many new graduate nurses to leave. 

To prevent new graduate nurse turnover and minimise the organisational cost of training new nurses, proactive measures should be taken to address burnout and stress among new graduate nurses. Implementing a nurse residency program, also known as an entry-to-practice or transition-to-practice program, is an effective strategy. Nurse residency programs employ standardised, evidence-based curricula that facilitate the integration of experiential knowledge and skills required to navigate the complexities of healthcare environments. 

Facilities without nurse residency programs show an average retention rate of 70%, while implementation of a nurse residency program can increase the retention rate to between 94% and 98%. Despite the proven effectiveness of nurse residency programs in new graduate nurse retention and preparation, only a few hospitals have fully embraced these programs. 

The objective of a scoping review that is underway is to identify and analyse barriers and obstacles to the implementation of nurse residency programs for new graduate nurses. Additionally, the review aims to identify facilitators that can simplify the implementation process. By synthesising existing knowledge on nurse retention program barriers and facilitators, healthcare organisations can determine their strengths and opportunities in readiness to implement nurse residency programs, contributing to the improvement of new graduate nurse retention and preparation. 

The scoping review protocol, Barriers and facilitators for implementing a nurse residency program for new graduate nurses, is available in the July 2023 special issue of JBI Evidence Synthesis. 

Pickens, Jessica B.; Palokas, Michelle

JBI Evidence Synthesis 21(7):p 1461-1468, July 2023. | DOI: 10.11124/JBIES-22-00147