Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

School

Education

Advisor

Nancy Walters

Abstract

New nurse turnover is a problem worldwide and, in the hospital, identified for this study. High nurse turnover contributes to staffing shortages in hospitals, which adversely affects health care quality for patients. The problem of high nurse turnover among newly hired nurses in a rural Indiana hospital was addressed to improve new nurses’ longevity in their jobs. The framework of new nurse orientation with foundations of socialization, preceptorship, and Benner’s transition theory for nursing grounded this mixed-methods study to explore the perceptions of 11 new nurses on their preceptor role experiences. The research questions investigated the relationship between new nurse hires’ perceptions of preceptor role effectiveness in the preceptee transition to professional practice and self-reported intent to stay in the job at least one year. New nurse selection to participate in the study was contingent on having been assigned to a preceptor within the preceding 12 months. Findings from the quantitative data analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between new nurse perceptions of preceptor role effectiveness and their intent to stay in the job for a year (r = .915, p < .001). Qualitative findings revealed themes on communication and situational expectation, confidence in preceptor, role modeling, and preceptor influence. The resulting project consisted of a white paper that provided nursing leadership with recommendations to develop or revise policies supporting new nurse transition and ongoing training for the preceptor role. The project contributes to positive social change through the insights from new nurses’ experiences during transition into their jobs; insights that can be used for potential changes in programs that support the retention of newly hired nurses.

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