Abstract
The purpose of this scholarly project is to examine the clinical problem of the present-day nursing shortage in the United States (U.S.) and to establish awareness of how the utilization of nurse residency programs (NRPs) in the hospital setting can reduce the turnover rate of first year nursing graduates. Registered nurses (RNs) embody the largest portion of healthcare workers within the medical system worldwide. Currently, in the U.S., millions of RNs are already employed and actively functioning in their role, but the nursing shortage is predicted to remain evident into the year of 2030. Newly graduated RNs are the largest source of RNs available for recruitment to fill the open vacancies but their transition from the academic to professional setting can be overwhelming and stressful. Today, to assist in combating the difficult transition, RN leaders can positively impact the nursing shortage by creating a favorable NRP in their medical organization. The ultimate goal of NRPs is to strengthen leadership skills, competency, and job satisfaction amongst the newest and most vulnerable population of RNs in order to decrease the amount of turnover experienced. A literature review was performed with the objective of recognizing how NRPs can proactively promote RN retention and assist in subsiding the nursing shortage.