Content and Effect of Introduction Programmes to Increase Retention and Decrease Turnover of Newly Graduated Nurses in Hospitals: Umbrella Review

AIM: The aim of this study is to combine and compare results from systematic reviews reporting the content and effect of programmes for the introduction of newly graduated nurses employed in hospital settings on increasing retention and decreasing turnover.

DESIGN: An umbrella review.

METHODS: The electronic databases of PubMed/MEDLINE, CINAHL and PhycInfo were searched in January 2023 for eligible systematic reviews. The search string consisted of keywords extracted from the PICOS inclusion criteria. The AMSTAR 2 instrument was used for critical appraisal of the methodological quality of the eligible systematic reviews. The process and results of the review were presented using a narrative description of the data.

RESULTS: Five systematic reviews, reporting 84 intervention studies evaluating nine types of introduction programmes from 2001 to 2018, were included in the umbrella review. All nine programme types were executed by nurses in a preceptor or mentor role and the content was directed towards training of the preceptor/mentor and introduction of the newly graduated nurses. The nine programmes showed overall positive effects on retention and turnover.

CONCLUSIONS: Mentorship and Preceptorship were the most frequently evaluated programmes in the included intervention studies of the five reviews. However, the lack of transparency of the reviews and the bias of the intervention studies within the reviews, made it difficult to conclude specific effects of the content of the nine programmes.

REGISTRATION: The protocol for the umbrella review is registered with Open Science Framework (https://OSF.IO/DXYS4).

IMPACT: A weak introduction to hospital employment of newly graduated nurses may decrease retention and increase turnover. Structured and personal introduction by a mentor can have an effect on the newly graduated nurses' intentions to stay in their hospital care position.

REPORTING METHOD: AMSTAR 2.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION: None.