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WEBCASTS

Boosting Retention and Doubling New Hires with Sun Health’s

Nursing Education Transition Unit

register February 21, 2008 at 12:00 AM PST
Patricia  Greene, MSN, RN
Patient Care Manager

Nancy  Zismann, MSOL, RN
Assistant Vice President Patient Care Services

In 2005, Sun  Health’s RN turnover rate was 31% during the first year of employment, creating  difficulty in hiring new graduate RN’s. Sun Health asked, “How do we decrease  the first year turnover and increase hiring?”   The strategy is to create an environment that supports the new hire  nurses and new graduate nurses.  The  following is the plan that Sun Health followed to successfully achieve a 90%  retention rate with new graduates in 2007.

Strategy: Develop  a program that would be feasible within our current limitation of budget and  productivity while building a solid foundation of education, support and  professional growth.


From Concept to Reality

Identify the stakeholders (CEO, CNO and AVP Patient Care Services, Patient Care Managers)
Financial Stewardship
Staffing Plan, Start up Costs, Stakeholder buy-in and Unit Support

From Design to Reality

Establish the unit
Use existing unit: No need to license new best, equipment in place
Determine timeline for opening: Consider local school graduation time frames

From Design to Reality

Unit Staff “Core Staff”-Behavioral Interview (structured interview process and team building program for staff)
New Hire Candidates for the Unit- New Graduate RNs, Foreign Nurse Hires, Experienced Nurse Hires selecting a new area of practice

Preceptors

Preceptors are the key to the success of the NET-U
A good nurse does not necessarily make a good preceptor
Preceptors need support and education
Preceptors are partners in the development of the NET-U

Preceptors

Education: Organization Development Class, Adult learning theory and Role Playing
Workshops: Reiterate standards, Review Goals of Unit, Examine Orientation, Discuss Issues and Problem Solve
Support: Incentives, Conferences, Organizational Dues, Clinical Ladder Opportunity

Unit Matrix

Matrix developed to direct flow of orientee experiences
Goal to complete tier one orientation and demonstrate advancement from novice to beginner
Matrix flexible to meet new graduate learning needs
Three parts to orientee experience: work with preceptor, off unit experience, didactic-four hours per nine week period

Tiered Orientation

Tier 1-Novice to beginner
Tier 2-Beginner to beginner/competent
Tier 3-Competent to fully competent
Tier 4-Full member of the team
Movement through tiers dictated by competency, not by time schedule

Off Unit
Experience

Home unit manager provides list of what experiences the new graduate should have
Preceptor arranged experiences
Off unit experiences tailored to new graduate

Goals

Research-Objectives are to increase retention and enhance patient safety
Safety
Satisfaction
ROI

Results

Retention of New Graduates: 69% in 2006 and 90% in 2007
Hiring of New Graduates: 29 New hires in 2006 and 49 New hires in 2007