An interesting piece written by Rebecca Hendren for HealthLeaders Media bridges nurse retention and sleeping. The article highlights a new graduate nurse retention program in Lynchburg, VA, that offers a formal sleep education class that explains how to get better sleep and why sleep is important. The program was created after the nurse retention coordinator, Cheryl Burnette, began to see a potential tie between nurse retention of new graduates and sleep.
Around 60% of new nurses leave their first job within a year. Many of these graduates take on night shifts because of the open positions for such jobs. But lack of sleep can cause mental and cognitive abilities, add stress, and increase the risk of medical errors.
The program has some impressive results: Before its implementation, the turnover rate for new grads was 28.8%; in 2008, that rate dropped to 5.7%.
The class also provides a sleep kit, including ear plugs and eye mask for better sleep.
What do you think of this type of class? Do you think it’s a good idea? Have you experienced similar education?
January 18th, 2010 at 9:50 am
I’d be interested in content of the classes.
January 19th, 2010 at 8:18 am
I, too, would be interested in the curriculum. This looks like an interesting and innovative concept.
January 20th, 2010 at 5:13 pm
Hi,
I wrote the post above. You may want to check out the HealthLeaders Media article (linked above), but I can tell you that the program leader consulted the National Sleep Foundation and used it as her educational model. I don’t have the exact curriculum, but the program leaders delivers a PowerPoint presentation that explains why sleep is important and the effect it has if nurses do not receive sufficient restorative sleep. Each new grad receives a sleep kit that contains ear plugs (which block out up to 31 decibels) and an eye mask, which nurses have reported have improved their sleep tremendously.
Hope that helps. Please let me know if you would like more information.