New graduates in the burn unit.

The nursing shortage is widespread. The shortage of available experienced registered nurses has led to an influx of new graduate nurses (GN) into the acute care setting. This influx of inexperienced nurses into highly specialized areas has established a need to develop effective GN training programs that promote sound clinical performance,encourage professional development, and strengthen recruitment and retention efforts. This article discusses the training needs of GNs in burn units and reviews the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) GN residency program with a discussion of its successes and future challenges.