Editor’s note: This excerpt is adapted from HCPro’s new book “Nurse Retention Toolkit: Everyday Ways to Recognize and Reward Nurses,” by Lydia Ostermeier, MSN, RN, CHCR and Bonnie Clair, BSN, RN.
Leaving nursing school to enter the workforce can be a difficult transitional period for many new nurse graduates. And literature reveals that 57% of new nurse graduates will leave their first position within two years of hire. So, why are they leaving? Like many of us, new nurses want to feel valued, be rewarded, have a strong relationship with their manager, and enjoy a work-life balance.
Managers and their organizations expend untold time and energy recruiting and hiring new nurses, and it can be disheartening when those nurses leave so quickly. Organizations work hard to get nurses in the door so it makes sense to work hard to retain them.
Healthcare organizations know the first year of employment for a new nurse is the trickiest, so it’s important to let new nurse graduates know they are welcome on the unit and will be a valued part of the team.
A great way to make nurses feel appreciated and valued from the get-go is a small welcome bag. The first day is sure to be stressful, so here are some possibilities for the welcome package:
- A small card to say “We are glad you are here”
- A voucher for a free cafeteria lunch
- An organizational logo pen
- A lapel badge holder
- A pack of gum or candy
- A mini bottle of hand sanitizer
It’s always nice to add other interesting items and anything that pertains to an individual unit. For example, a neonatal flight team gives out helicopter magnets to new hires! Some fun ideas are:
- Stress balls related to a particular unit (e.g., a stress ball shaped like a heart or a brain)
- A bookmark with the organization’s nursing Web site listed
- A small notepad for jotting down things to remember
- Sticky notes that have a nurse-related heading such as “Nurses are patient people”
- An organizational logo lunch bag
- A calculator
- A magnet illustrating the department
Editor’s note: To learn more about this book (and others!), visit www.hcmarketplace.com.
February 18th, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Mike: Where did you get the 57% and how old is this stat? The last published stat I have found for new grad turnover is 2003 and it was 55-61% turnover in the first year. Thank you
February 18th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
Hi Debbie,
Thanks for your comment.
Here is the reference on that statistic:
Newhouse, R.P., J.J. Hoffman, J. Suflita, et al. (2007). “Evaluating an innovative program to improve new nurse graduate socialization into the acute health care setting.” Nursing Administration Quarterly 31, 50-60.
No matter the source, it’s quite surprising how high it is, isn’t it?
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