**The big picture:** Nearly a quarter of new nursing graduates leave their roles within the first year, coinciding with a significant portion of the experienced nursing workforce approaching retirement. **Why it matters:** This high turnover creates a critical "experience-complexity gap" in healthcare, straining systems, impacting patient care quality, and driving substantial recruitment costs. **Between the lines:** - 22.3% of new hires depart within 12 months. - The average cost of turnover per nurse is $61,110. - Lack of structured preceptorship and mentorship is a key driver of early departures. **Staffing & HR impact:** Staffing firms face increased demand for experienced nurses and challenges in talent acquisition, while HR departments must prioritize robust mentorship programs to improve retention and reduce costly churn. **The bottom line:** Investing in comprehensive support for new grads is essential to stabilize the nursing workforce and bridge the growing experience gap.