With today’s health care crisis, retention of nurses is critically important.  In the past, hiring and training of new graduate nurses in specialty areas has been taboo.  Creative education and orientation, along with effective hiring screening, has helped Rush Copley Medical Center to have a 100% retention rate for the past 2 years.   

A combination of didactic and clinical time has proven to be an effective means to preparing the new graduate nurse to the obstetrical arena. Other successful interventions are a designated preceptor that is skilled in precepting; weekly communication with the Clinical Nurse Specialist; and education of the entire nursing staff on ways to help new staff succeed.