How Do You Improve Nursing Retention With Preceptor Programs?
Making a new hire feel welcomed encourages a positive working atmosphere. If you are experiencing high nursing staff turnover, implementing a preceptor program may help with retention rates. The fundamental principal of a preceptor program is that an experienced staff member is assigned a new hire to mentor through job-shadowing and individualized one-on-one training. The goal is two-fold; it provides the new nurse with a supportive environment to develop into a successful team player and allows current staff to develop leadership and training skills that provide them with a sense of accomplishment, leading to higher job satisfaction. Gather nursing retention statistics from your human resources and quality improvement departments prior to the start of a preceptor program to determine a baseline measurement. Review exit interview information to determine why nurses leave their job. This information may help shape your preceptor program and their ultimate goals and objectives. Design a