Tool kit for the staff mentor: strategies for improving retention

Retention of new graduates in nursing continues to be a significant workplace issue, particularly in light of the heightening nursing shortage. Experienced nurses are in a pivotal position to positively impact retention, and, because of this, they can be called "keystoners". Mentoring, an important role of the keystoner, requires specific skills and knowledge and can be learned. A tool kit designed to develop the mentoring skills of keystoners is described. The result of successful mentoring among keystoners can be multifaceted; workplace satisfaction and higher retention of new graduates are targeted outcomes.