Grasp your new grad nurses!

Transitioning from nursing school to the bedside can be difficult for new nurses. And literature reveals a hefty amount of new nurse graduates depart from their first position within two years of hire. So, why are they leaving? Like many of us, new nurses want to feel valued, be rewarded, have strong relationships with their managers, and enjoy a work-life balance.

Managers work so hard to get nurses in the door that it makes sense to work hard to retain them. It's important to let new nurse graduates know they are welcome on the unit and will be a valued part of the team. Here are some ways you can do this:

• Create welcome flyers. Make welcome flyers and post them around your facility-not only in nursing areas, but also in places physicians will see them.
• Get to know them. It can useful to get to know new graduates before assigning them a preceptor or a mentor, because that way you have a better idea of their personality and can make a suitable placement. To accomplish this, consider spending the first two weeks of new nurses' orientation with them as much as possible.
• Check in weekly. Most new nurse graduates are beginning their first-ever full-time job. The reality of this can be overwhelming, so check in weekly to make sure they are not overwhelmed.
• Recognize the new nurse at staff meetings. Before you begin the weekly staff meeting, take the time to introduce everyone to the new nurse. This is a great way for the new nurse to remember faces and feel a part of the team.

How do you make your new grad nurses feel appreciated?

Editor's note: This excerpt was taken from the book, Nurse Retention Toolkit: Everyday Ways to Recognize and Reward Nurses. For more retention tips, look out for its release in early September.