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St. Joseph Health 4 minute read

Nurse Residency Program Leads to 91% Retention Rate for New Nurses

CommonSpirit Health’s system-wide nurse residency program prepares new nurse graduates for success while increasing career satisfaction and retention.

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CHICAGO – August 19, 2025 – Two years after implementation, CommonSpirit Health’s system-wide, standardized nurse residency program has resulted in an aggregate retention rate of 91% for new nurses who start the program. 

A study published in The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing found that up to one-third of new nurses leave their employer within the first two years. 

Stressful work environments, a lack of support and difficulty navigating the change from an academic to a clinical environment all play a role in new nurse turnover. 

“The first four to six months of employment can be a difficult time for new nurse graduates as they transition from a learning environment to providing clinical care,” said Jennifer Hubek, MS, RN, NPD-BC, system director of the nurse residency program at CommonSpirit Health. “CommonSpirit’s nurse residency program gives new nurses the support and additional orientation they need to provide safe, patient-centered care and be confident in their new roles.”

Launched in 2023, CommonSpirit’s yearlong program helps new nurses successfully navigate the change from a learning to a clinical environment by providing mentorship, career coaching, support and a hands-on standardized curriculum. 

About CommonSpirit’s nurse residency program: 

  • Implemented at 81 facilities across the country, with a total of 130 facilities expected to adopt the program by the end of 2026

  • Nearly 3,500 nurse residents have started the program and 1,200 have completed it

  • Over 4,000 preceptors and 700 mentors have been trained as part of the program, providing support to new nurses

  • 10 clinical tracks included:

    • Medical-Surgical-Telemetry 

    • Critical Care 

    • Progressive Care

    • Emergency Department

    • Perioperative

    • Neonatal Intensive Care

    • Labor & Delivery

    • Mother/Baby 

    • Pediatrics/Pediatric Intensive Care

    • Behavioral Health.

The program’s curriculum is structured as 70% on-the-job learning, 20% coaching and mentoring and 10% e-Learning courses and instructor-led workshops. Nurse residency program leaders added additional elements including social determinants of health and how to effectively communicate with a patient’s loved ones, and gamified portions of the curriculum to give new nurses a well-rounded experience.

“We’re invested in the professional growth of our nurses and continuously implement feedback from our cohorts as they complete the program,” said Amrit Kamboj, DNP, RN, MSN/FNP-BC, DSD, system vice president of clinical education and professional development at CommonSpirit. “We found that instead of having the curriculum be primarily lecture-based, our cohorts preferred different formats. The more interactive formats meet the needs of the new graduates and help build critical thinking as they work through scenarios and answer questions.” 

Madeline Thompson, RN, a recent graduate of the nurse residency program and nurse at CommonSpirit’s CHI Health Immanuel Hospital in Nebraska said the program helped give her more confidence in the transition from nursing school to bedside care.

"CommonSpirit's residency program has been a game-changer for me,” Thompson said. "This program continues to make me feel empowered, confident, supported, and most of all provides me with the feeling of belonging." 

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About CommonSpirit Health

Inspired by faith. Driven by innovation. Powered by humankindness. CommonSpirit Health is building a healthier future for all through its integrated health services. As one of the nation’s largest nonprofit Catholic healthcare organizations, CommonSpirit Health delivers more than 20 million patient encounters annually through more than 2,300 clinics, care sites and 137 hospital-based locations, in addition to its home-based services and virtual care offerings. CommonSpirit has more than 157,000 employees, 45,000 nurses and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice providers across 24 states and contributes more than $4.2 billion annually in charity care, community benefits and unreimbursed government programs. Together with our patients, physicians, partners, and communities, we are creating a more just, equitable, and innovative healthcare delivery system. Learn more at commonspirit.org