There is an ongoing shortage in the field of nursing. Board of Labor projected a 22% increase in the need for nurses from the period of 1998 to 2008. Despite this trend, the number of students enrolling in nursing school continues to decline. (Lindsey and Kleiner, 2005) Unless this changes, the shortage of nurses will not end in the near future. .

             Yet, the problem doesn't stop there. A surprising number of newly-graduated nurses abandon the career in less than a year. Many new graduates cite the main reason as a lack of preparedness for the responsibilities they face on the job. This, plus conflicting roles on the job and stress from over work contribute heavily to turnover in the nursing field. High turnover also affects the morale of the staff nurses negatively, as they feel discouragement at training new nurses only to have them leave a short time later. .

             The statistics available for the nursing profession in regards to retention are discouraging, to say the least. Most studies place the rate of turnover between 35% and 60%.(Lindsey and Kleiner, 2005) In one particular case, 93 nurses underwent critical care orientation at a level one trauma center. Within the span of a year, only 8 of these nurses remained (retention of less than 9%). Exit interviews in that case revealed the primary reason for leaving was "dissatisfaction with orientation." (Williams et al) .

             It is immediately apparent that the nursing profession is in dire straits in two fronts- enrollment and retention. Simply put, not enough students are signing up in the first place. Of the ones that do, and continue on to graduate and find a nursing position, a substantial number are quitting within a year. Therefore, it can be concluded that the nursing field requires some drastic changes to met future challenges.

             One of the recent innovations developed to combat these problems is the nurse residency program.