| There is an overall shortage of registered nurses. Additionally, there is a high turnover rate of new registered nurses. Externship programs, such as the Veterans Affairs Learning Opportunity Residency (VALOR) Scholarship Program, have been created but not been evaluated systematically. The primary purpose of this study was to examine the effects of the VALOR Program on job satisfaction, sense of belonging, professionalism and socialization by comparing two groups of VALOR and non-VALOR BSN registered nurses who graduated in 2006, 2007 or 2008. Surveys were sent to a national sample of RNs who were employed by 23 VA Medical Centers. Significant differences in sense of belonging were found for VALOR RNs over the age of 35. Further studies are needed to assess how the VALOR Program impacts sense of belonging for nurses over the age of 35. This was the first study to evaluate the VALOR Program and future research is needed to identify additional outcomes related to this Program. |
