Case Study

You have experienced high turnover of newly graduated and newly hired nurses during the past two years. Your nursing preceptors are the faithful few that have remained on the unit. A general orientation program of six weeks is provided for new graduates and a standard two weeks is given to newly hired nurses. Your Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) has asked you to “fix” this high turnover problem.

1. Describe specific staff development strategies the Nurse Leader can employ to identify the educational needs of these newly hired nurses.

2. Examine the role of the Nurse Leader within a Learning Organization.

3. Apply Knowles Adult Learning Theory and determine the best educational methods of orienting newly hired nursing staff.