Graduation Year
2016
Degree Type
Open Access Capstone
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
Department
Nursing
Department Name when Degree Awarded
Baccalaureate and Graduate Nursing
First Advisor
Donna J. Corley
Department Affiliation
Nursing
Second Advisor
Jill Cornelison
Department Affiliation
Nursing
Third Advisor
Mary DeLetter
Department Affiliation
Nursing
Abstract
Retention of new graduate registered nurses (RNs) is a problem within the healthcare system negatively impacting patient safety and health care outcomes. The problem of retention of qualified RNs is compounded by the potential shortage of RNs, the aging RN workforce and the aging US population. During a period of transition, a novice RN requires the guidance of others to learn to apply theoretical knowledge to real life clinical experiences. In the linear progression of Benner’s levels of clinical competency, the beginning two levels of nurses need a resource person to guide their progression in clinical practice. A mentoring relationship can help the nurse accelerate through the novice to expert continuum. Mentoring is an intervention to foster support and socialization of new RNs to an organization or unit. A nurse mentor program was developed and implemented with the purpose to improve nurse satisfaction and intent to stay. A pre and post intervention design was implemented in a rural Emergency Department to evaluate nurse job satisfaction and intent to stay in the job. Intent to stay in the job mean scores increased and the RN participants reported program satisfaction through verbal and written feedback.
Copyright
2016 Sara Jane Jones
Recommended Citation
Jones, Sara Jane, "Establishing a Nurse Mentor Program to Improve Nurse Satisfaction and Intent to Stay" (2016). Doctor of Nursing Practice Projects. 15.
https://encompass.eku.edu/dnpcapstones/15
