Support Programs for New Graduates in Pediatric Nursing

This study examined intent to stay and the relationship between work satisfaction and burnout in a sample of new registered nurse graduates hired at a freestanding children's hospital. The following research questions were addressed: (1) Two years after initial employment, what is the percentage of new graduates who intend to stay on the job? (2) Is there a relationship between work satisfaction and burnout? (3) What is the turnover rate after the implementation of a support group program for new registered nurses? Of a target group of 75 new graduate nurses, 33 (44%) completed a modified version of Aiken's Revised Nursing Work Index and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. A majority of the registered nurses intended to stay on the job, with 87.9% reporting that they were satisfied with their current position and 97.0% reporting that they were satisfied with being a nurse. The correlation between job satisfaction and burnout was as follows: r = -0.684, F(1,30) = -21.71; p<.001. Of the participants, 39% reported an increase in the amount of time they spent with patients over the year, 27% reported an increase in the amount of time they spent documenting patient care, and 24% reported that the quality of care they were providing was better than 1 year ago. Before the implementation of a support group program for new graduates in 2006, the turnover rate was 7.6%; in 2009, the turnover rate was 5.7%. J Contin Educ Nurs 2011; 42(4): 182-192.