Learning Objective #1: Describe the current state of the science on the transition of new graduate nurses into the workplace

Learning Objective #2: Define workplace and educational variables that are associated with the satisfaction, intent to leave, and turnover of new graduate nurses in their first two years of practice

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of anticipatory socialization (age, race, marital status, and educational preparation) and organizational socialization (orientation, continuing education, staffing shortages, and patient caseload) on job and career satisfaction, intent to leave the current position, intent to leave nursing profession, and turnover. The study was a secondary analysis of an existing database of new graduate nurses generated by the N. C. Center for Nursing in 2001. The study sample consisted of 329 new graduate registered nurses working fulltime for less than two years. The study found that turnover during the first two years of practice for the new graduate nurse was strongly associated with the length and quality of orientation. Although the study found a relationship between job and career satisfaction, the findings suggest that these are two distinct components of nurse satisfaction. The daily experience of short staffing during the first few years of practice is associated with job dissatisfaction and job dissatisfaction is related to dissatisfaction with the career of nursing and the intention to leave the job and the profession earlier. This study has implications for educators and administrators of health care organizations. High quality orientation programs, adequate nurse/patient staffing rations, and an adequate period for transition from school-to-work are critical components for retaining and fostering competence in new graduate nurses.