Newly Licensed Registered Nurses Study

Christine T. Kovner, Ph.D., R.N., F.A.A.N. New York University College of Nursing
Carol S. Brewer, Ph.D., R.N. University at Buffalo School of Nursing

This project studying RNs' work began as a national study to track career changes among newly licensed registered nurses. With funding from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation until 2016, we have the unique opportunity to study RN work careers for 10 years.

Understanding the needs and challenges of newly licensed nurses is a priority to meet the goal of balancing the supply of and demand for RNs. This study aims to examine the first work settings of newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) to learn what influences their first job choice and where they move to afterwards. Is the setting the same or different, and is it in or out of nursing? We are also interested in why NLRNs leave: what was more attractive about the second setting?

The sample includes RNs who obtained their first license to practice as RNs between August 1, 2004 and July 31, 2005. We collected information from 3,266 eligible respondents from 34 states and the District of Columbia for a 58 percent response rate. Data were collected in the winters of 2006, 2007, and 2009.

Turnover Rates for Newly Licensed Registered Nurses

About 18.1% of newly licensed RNs leave their first nursing employer within a year of starting their job. Of these about 91.8% take another nursing job with a different employer. About 26.2% of newly licensed RNs leave their first nursing employer within two years. Of those about 91.8% take another nursing job. These numbers are based on a nationally representative sample of 2383 newly licensed RNs who graduated in 2004 and 2005 and who worked in a variety of settings.

These numbers contrast with those of PriceWaterhouseCooper (2007), which reports about a 52% turnover rate for new RNs within two years of starting their job, although the source of data is not clear from their report. Beecroft (2007) reported a 16% turnover rate within two years for a sample of 889 pediatric RNs who were new to the organization, but not necessarily new to nursing. Hare (2007) reported 10.4% turnover rate within the first year of employment for 562 new nurses at 24 hospitals in Washington state that had new RN transition programs. Halfer (2008) reported a 12% turnover rate within one year for new RNs who had participated in a nurse residency program. Scott (2008) in a sample of 329 newly licensed RNs reported a turnover rate of 55% within two years, but they included those RNs who changed positions, but stayed within the same organization and those who changed employer.

Chris Kovner and Carol Brewer

Source: unpublished data

Newly Licensed Registered Nurse project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.