Student pre-entry experience and first year of employment.

BACKGROUND: Student clinical and work-related experiences are available at many healthcare organizations, but little is known about how these experiences contribute to the employer/nurse work relationship that begins after graduation. This study examined the relationship of senior BSN students' past employer experience in describing first-year employer commitment and turnover. METHODS: The sample was 63 senior BSN students. Experience factors measured included job selection factors, pre- and one-year commitment, organizational climate, employer support, and first-year turnover. RESULTS: Organizational climate was the experience-related factor most important in explaining first-year commitment. CONCLUSION: Findings suggest the importance of supportive work environments to new nurses both before and after accepting the first graduate nurse position.