Nurse Education and the Retention of Registered Nurses in New South Wales *

The retention of registered nurses (RNs) in the nursing profession has become a key issue for governments. This article examines the impact of a change in the nature of nurse education, from hospital‐based to university‐based training, on the labour market behaviour of RNs. The analysis indicates that RNs trained in universities are approximately 6 per cent more likely to exit the nursing workforce than hospital‐trained RNs. The analysis highlights the need to develop policies to address the low retention rates for nurses in the health system such as developing clearer career paths and enhancing the non‐pecuniary aspects of nursing.