Creating a long-term care new nurse residency model

Abstract

As the impact of health care reform continues to evolve, the movement of patients from acute to postacute settings will continue to expand. Currently, the turnover and retention of RNs nationally in long-term care is at an all-time high, with a median turnover rate of 50% for RNs. Workforce instability is a prime contributor to poor patient outcomes, increased costs, and a dissatisfied nursing workforce. Therefore, the New Jersey Action Coalition determined that the Institute of Medicine’s Future of Nursing: Leading Change, Advancing Health recommendation to implement nurse residency programs across settings would be a priority for New Jersey. A 12-month new nurse residency and preceptor program was developed and implemented in long-term care, with 37 new nurses and 37 preceptors. The design and implementation processes are described, as well as lessons learned along the journey.