Abstract
This collaborative project focused on improving self-efficacy and emancipated decision-making skills for nursing learners during an 8-week externship program. The learners attended educational sessions about topics identified as stressful and were paired with a preceptor. The long-term purposes of this pilot program involve nurse recruitment and retention. Job placement and retention will be followed for 2 years. This article will discuss the short-term program outcomes: self-efficacy and emancipated decision making.