Training and Retaining Staff for Surgical Services: How personality types decrease turnover

Zee Barreras, BSN, RN, CNOR, Surgical Services Clinical Educator, Tucson Medical Center

Surgical services are a specialty field of nursing that is not generally taught in the average nursing program. AORN suggests that it takes roughly one year to adequately train staff at the cost of approximately $80,000 per year. The OR has one of the highest turnover rates which can be reduced by hiring the right person who has certain personality traits that work well in the OR arena and who are less likely to quit when stressed due to work demands. This course will help a manger/supervisor ask interview question that will identify personality traits. It will also assist staff educators to facilitate learning needs with preceptors/mentors to reduce stress in the onboarding process to improve staff satisfaction which decreases turnover rates.