More Hospitals Establish Residency Programs For New Nurses To Help Address Shortage

Main Category: Nursing / Midwifery
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 19 Feb 2009 - 5:00 PDT

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An increased number of hospitals have established residency programs to increase support for nursing school graduates and help address the current nursing shortage, the AP/Detroit News reports. According to a recent national study, one in five new nurses quits within one year. The high turnover rate -- a "major contributor to the nation's growing shortage of nurses," which could reach 500,000 by 2025 -- has resulted in part because new nurses face a "demanding environment" and do not undergo residency programs to provide them with "on-the-job training," the AP/News reports.

In response, some hospitals have begun to have new nurses shadow more experienced nurses, and others have invested in residency programs. In 2002, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing and the University HealthSystem Consortium created a residency program for new nurses at hospitals affiliated with universities. About 52 hospitals participate in the program, and in 2007 they had an average turnover rate of 6% among new nurses. In addition, the federal government since 2003 has awarded $17 million in grants for 75 hospitals to offer residency programs for new nurses. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing also has considered a standardized residency program for new nurses (Madkour, AP/Detroit News, 2/15).

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