Mentoring to Retain Newly Hired Nurses

Failure of the current transition experience from education to clinical practice is evident when nurses exhibit characteristics of burnout and role stress during their first year of employment. Often nurses become discouraged because their experience is stressful and often the environment is one of bullying. Mismanagement of the early professional experience leads to lack of motivation, low productivity and decreased quality of patient care, which should be a worry to all hospitals.
Supporting the professional socialization of nurses is critical because engaged nurses are satisfied with their careers and stay longer at their employing institutions, which in turn decreases staff turnover and improves patient outcomes satisfaction.
Mentoring is a low cost option and a positive mentoring relationship may be a career lifeline that eases the feelings of loneliness and stress that can stifle professional development.

Gazaway, S., Schumacher, A. and Anderson, L. (2016). Mentoring to retain newly hired nurses. Nursing Management, 47(8), 9-13. (Full text access via CIAP for NSW Health Staff. Otherwise check with your library staff)