Why nurses stay: Analysis of the registered nurse workforce and the relationship to work environments

Healthy work environment: A systematic review informing a nursing professional practice model in the US Military Health System

AIM

The aim of the study was to develop recommendations for creating a healthy work environment based on current literature for nurses working within the US Military Health System (MHS). However, our findings would likely benefit other nursing populations and environments as well.

DESIGN

Systematic literature review.

DATA SOURCES

We conducted a systematic literature search for articles published between January 2010 until January 2024 from five databases: PubMed, Joanna Briggs, Embase, CINAHL and Scopus.

METHODS

Articles were screened, selected and extracted using Covidence software. Article findings were synthesized to create recommendations for the development, implementation and measurement of healthy work environments.

RESULTS

Ultimately, a total of 110 articles met the criteria for inclusion in this review. The articles informed 13 recommendations for creating a healthy work environment. The recommendations included ensuring teamwork, mentorship, job satisfaction, supportive leadership, nurse recognition and adequate staffing and resources. Additionally, we identified strategies for implementing and measuring these recommendations.

CONCLUSIONS

This thorough systematic review created actionable recommendations for the creation of a healthy work environment. Based on available evidence, implementation of these recommendations could improve nursing work environments.

IMPACT

This study identifies methods for implementing and measuring aspects of a healthy work environment. Nurse leaders or others can implement the recommendations provided here to develop healthy work environments in their hospitals, clinics or other facilities where nurses practice.

REPORTING METHOD

PRISMA 2020 guidelines.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Supporting older nurses and midwives in the Australian healthcare workplace-A qualitative descriptive study

AIM

To explore support strategies for older nurses and midwives in Australian healthcare workplaces.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive study.

METHOD

Participants were 50 older nurses and midwives and 20 healthcare managers recruited from a broad range of Australian healthcare settings. Data were collected using semi-structured interviews from November 2018 to April 2021. The interviews were recorded, transcribed and thematically analysed.

RESULTS

The limited number of identified sedentary roles and inequitable distribution of workload responsibilities were identified as constraints that impact the provision of workplace support for older nurses and midwives in healthcare settings. Three major themes were identified: Workplace support, Personal support and Doing more. A small number of participants reported support was available at work, but most said there was not. Of the reported strategies some were offered exclusively to a cohort that met an age criterion, while others were open to all staff regardless of age. Personal support strategies were employed outside of the workplace while others used strategies during working hours. Doing more related to suggestions about how organizations could do more to support older nurses and midwives at work.

CONCLUSION

Support mechanisms like adjustments in workload, employment fraction, practice location, upskilling and wellness programs in workplaces are limited. To facilitate retention and support older nurses and midwives in the workforce, health workplaces should consider implementing support mechanisms that can be tailored to the individual needs of the nurse or midwife over the life course of their career.

IMPACT

The findings of this study highlight the lack of support for many older nurses and midwives in Australian healthcare workplaces, emphasizing the need for further research into innovative practices on how to better support healthcare staff as they age.

REPORTING METHOD

This study adhered to the COREQ reporting method.

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No patient or public contribution.

Improving Retention Through a Purposeful Multidisciplinary Mentorship Program

In response to high nurse turnover, a 12-hospital health system team created a sustainable, formalized, and interprofessional mentoring model to improve nurse retention. In the 1st year of the program, 506 mentor-mentee matches were made, and nearly 5000 hours of mentoring time were logged. Data revealed that turnover was significantly reduced in both the mentor and mentee groups compared with employees who were not in the program.

Effectively and Efficiently Reengineering the Nursing Work Environment by Applying a Conceptual Framework for Nurse Retention

The nursing shortage that is upon us is the result of a confluence of factors, some simple and some complex. Legacy solutions are not working. Recovery from the current situation involves examining and reshaping the nursing work environment. Creative and innovative solutions are being developed and tested. The call for addressing the work environment is surfacing in the literature, yet methods for doing so in an orderly, progressive manner have been elusive. To solve complex problems, structure helps lead to clear thinking. This work presents a conceptual framework for nurse retention derived from concept analysis of initiatives with empirical outcomes for intent to stay, intent to leave, turnover, and retention. It layers in 2 simple theorists and presents an intuitive, understandable model to guide strategic planning and decision making. The Framework has been used for several applications, one of which is a unit-based action planning method that is systematic, cyclic, and uses data relevant to specific unit culture. Improvements occurred in retention and engagement metrics, work effectiveness scores, and cost. Nurse managers extol the process's simplicity and ease of use, and the role the Framework plays in shaping the way they think about nurse retention.

The association between appreciative management and work engagement among health- and social care professionals: A cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

The importance of work engagement has been emphasised due to the increasing demand for health- and social care and the shortage of skilled labour. Improving organisational and managerial factors is important when enhancing professionals' work engagement. The association between management and work engagement has only been established in previous studies at a general level, but the association between appreciative management and work engagement has not received equivalent research interest.

AIM

This study aimed to describe the association between appreciative management and work engagement among health- and social care professionals.

METHODS

The study used a cross-sectional survey design. The data were collected in five health and social services centres in one city in Finland from September to October 2022 using the Appreciative Management Scale 2.0 and the Utrecht Work Engagement Scale-9. A total of 182 health- and social care professionals participated. The data were analysed using correlations, linear regression analyses, independent samples t-tests and two-way analyses of variance (ANOVAs).

RESULTS

A moderate association was found between appreciative management and work engagement and its dimensions of vigor, dedication and absorption. Systematic management had the strongest association and equality had the weakest association with work engagement. Among the dimensions of work engagement, appreciative management had the strongest association with vigour and the weakest association with absorption. Appreciative management and work type predicted 18% of the variance in work engagement. Full-time employees reported higher levels of work engagement and all its dimensions than did part-time employees.

CONCLUSION

The results indicate that appreciative management and full-time work predict work engagement among health- and social care professionals. Due to this positive association, it is important to promote managers' appreciative management skills by educating them to understand how appreciative management enables and supports professionals' vigour, dedication and absorption in health- and social care.

Workplace Belonging of Women Healthcare Professionals Relates to Likelihood of Leaving

Purpose

There is a high rate of attrition of professionals from healthcare institutions, which threatens the economic viability of these institutions and the quality of care they provide to patients. Women professionals face particular challenges that may lower their sense of belonging in the healthcare workplace. We sought to test the hypothesis that workplace belonging of women healthcare professionals relates to the likelihood that they expect to leave their institution.

Methods

Participants of a continuing education course on women's leadership skills in health care completed a survey about their experiences of belonging in workplace and their likelihood of leaving that institution within the next 2 years. An association between workplace belonging (measured by the cumulative number of belonging factors experienced, scale 0-10) and likelihood of leaving (measured on a 5-point Likert scale) was evaluated using ordinal logistic regression. The relative importance of workplace belonging factors in predicting the likelihood of leaving was assessed using dominance analysis.

Results

Ninety-nine percent of survey participants were women, and 63% were clinicians. Sixty-one percent of participants reported at least a slight likelihood of leaving their healthcare institution within the next 2 years. Greater workplace belonging was found to be associated with a significant reduction in the reported likelihood of leaving their institution after accounting for the number of years having worked in their current institution, underrepresented minority status, and the interaction between the latter two covariates. The workplace belonging factor found to be most important in predicting the likelihood of leaving was the belief that there was an opportunity to thrive professionally in the institution. Belonging factors involving feeling able to freely share thoughts and opinions were also found to be of relatively high importance in predicting the likelihood of leaving.

Conclusion

Greater workplace belonging was found to relate significantly to a reduced likelihood of leaving their institution within the next 2 years. Our findings suggest that leaders of healthcare organizations might reduce attrition of women by fostering workplace belonging with particular attention to empowering professional thriving and creating a culture that values open communication.

Turnover intention and its associated factors among nurses: a multi-center cross-sectional study

Aim

The purpose of our study was to assess the turnover intention of nurses in China and examine the associated factors.

Background

Since the world population ages, the demand for nurses has kept growing, and the shortage of nurses and high turnover rates are concerned with the quality of care. Thus, understanding nurses' turnover intention and the relevant factors could provide nurse managers with strategies to address the modifiable factors to decrease the turnover rate of nurses.

Methods

A multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 1,854 nurses working in 15 hospitals in China. Data were collected using a self-designed demographic questionnaire, the Turnover Intention Scale, the Job Satisfaction Scale, the Pay Level Satisfaction Scale, the Interpersonal Conflict at Work Scale, and a single question on the sense of belonging to the hospital.

Results

Most nurses (n = 1286, 69.4%) had a high level of turnover intention. Multilevel logistic regression analysis demonstrated that nurses being single (OR = 1.366, p < 0.05), with a junior college or below (OR = 0.381, p < 0.01), being a clinical nurse (OR = 1.913, p < 0.01), having higher pay level (OR = 0.596, p < 0.001), having higher job satisfaction (OR = 0.406, p < 0.001), having conflicts with colleagues (OR = 1.400, p < 0.05), and having a higher sense of belonging to the hospital (OR = 0.532, p < 0.001) proved to affect nurses' turnover intention.

Conclusion

This study extended the knowledge about the factors associated with nurses' intention to leave, which led to the turnover of nurses, and is one of the main contributors to the current shortage of nurses.

Implications for nursing management

This study provided new approaches to decreasing the turnover rate of nurses. Effective management strategies may mitigate nurses' turnover intention.

Factors That Influence the Retention of Graduate Nurses at a Safety Net Teaching Hospital

New nurse retention in hospitals is a national problem with significant patient safety and financial implications. This project was designed to determine retention and program completion rates of nurses who participated in a residency program. Factors influencing retention of nurses were explored using the Casey-Fink Nurse Retention Survey. Results revealed nurses' value supportive work environments, recognition, and seek mentorship for professional development. Designing nurse retention strategies is critical for organizations to prevent unnecessary turnover.

Managers' perception of older nurses and midwives and their contribution to the workplace-A qualitative descriptive study

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to explore healthcare managers' perceptions about older nurses' and midwives' and their contribution to the workplace.

DESIGN

A qualitative descriptive methodology.

METHOD

Twenty healthcare managers working in Australia participated in semi-structured interviews. Data were collected between April 2019 and April 2021. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and then analysed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

All healthcare managers said older nurses and midwives contributed to the workplace through their experience and knowledge. Managers viewed them as a different type of worker and while there were some positive aspects to this, it was mostly negative. Although managers identified a broad age range for the older nurses or midwives, there was a common perception that if they were no longer able to perform their duties, they should leave the workforce.

CONCLUSION

Healthcare managers' perceptions towards older nurses and midwives are mostly negative, and their understanding of older workers' contribution is contradictory and poor. These negative views co-exist with the lack of agreement on who is the older worker, which explain the reluctance of healthcare organizations to invest in their older workforce. Future research is needed to better understand the unique contribution of older nurses and midwives in healthcare and how they can be supported at work.

IMPACT

The global ageing population will result in a rise in complex age-related health issues and will require an experienced and knowledgeable workforce. Given the greater experience of older nurses and midwives they are an important part of the health workforce. Yet managers' perception of the contribution by older nurses and midwives were often negative. The findings of this study highlight the need for organizational change so that the contribution of older nurses and midwives is recognized and supported by managers.

Safeguarding the retention of nurses: A systematic review on determinants of nurse's intentions to stay

AIM

To explore factors that influence registered nurses' intention to stay working in the healthcare sector.

DESIGN

A systematic review and narrative synthesis.

METHODS

CINAHL, Medline and Cochrane library databases were searched from Jan 2010 to Jan 2022 inclusive and research selected using a structured criterion, quality appraisal and data extraction and synthesis were guided by Campbell's Synthesis Without Meta-analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty-four studies identified that nurses stay if they have job satisfaction and/or if they are committed to their organizations. The factors permeating these constructs weigh differently through generations and while not an infallible explanation, demonstrate stark differences in workplace needs by age, which influence the intention to stay, job satisfaction, organizational commitment and ultimately nurse turnover.

PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

Environmental, relational and individual factors have bearing on improving nurse satisfaction and commitment. Understanding why nurses stay through a generational behavioural and career stage lens can bolster safeguarding nurse retention.

The Race to Retain Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review on Factors that Impact Retention of Nurses and Physicians in Hospitals

The shortage of healthcare workers is a growing problem across the globe. Nurses and physicians, in particular, are vulnerable as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding why they might leave is imperative for improving retention. This systematic review explores both the prevalence of nurses and physicians who are intent on leaving their position at hospitals in European countries and the main determinants influencing job retention among nurses and physicians of their respective position in a hospital setting in both European and non-European countries. A comprehensive search was fulfilled within 3 electronic databases on June 3rd 2021. In total 345 articles met the inclusion criteria. The determinants were categorized into 6 themes: personal characteristics, job demands, employment services, working conditions, work relationships, and organizational culture. The main determinants for job retention were job satisfaction, career development and work-life balance. European and non-European countries showed similarities and differences in determinants influencing retention. Identifying these factors supports the development of multifactorial interventions, which can aid the formulation of medical strategies and help to maximize retention.

The Postpandemic Nursing Workforce: Increasing Fill Rates and Reducing Workload Through a Generational Design of Workforce Layers

Inequities between nursing workforce supply and demand continue to challenge nurse executives in creating the vision for a postpandemic nursing workforce. Health system's workforce redesign strategies must prioritize the changing needs of the multigenerational workforce to maximize the available supply of nurses willing to remain in the workforce. A test of a newly designed flexible workforce framework, aimed to meet the needs of the multigenerational workforce, resulted in increased fill rates and decreased costs of labor.

Determining the relationship between magnet properties of hospitals and the professional values of the nurses: A cross-sectional study

AIM

To identify the relationship between the characteristics of hospitals in recruiting and retaining nurses (magnet properties) and nurses' professional values.

BACKGROUND

In Turkey, there is a limited number of hospitals with the characteristics to enable nurses to stay in their institutions. The magnet properties of these hospitals and the professional values of the nurses working in these hospitals are not known.

METHODS

This descriptive cross-sectional research included 612 nurses working in 6 hospitals accredited by the Joint Commission International. Data were collected using the Nursing Professional Values Scale-Revised (NPVS-R) and the Essentials of Magnetism Scale (EOM II).

RESULTS

The mean NPVS-R score was high 102.0 (26-130). However, the mean EOM II score was found to be low at 2.2 (1.0-3.4). As the magnet properties of the hospitals increased, the professional values of the nurses decreased.

CONCLUSION

There was a negative correlation between the magnet properties of hospitals and the professional values of the nurses.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

The findings of this study highlight the necessity of creating a working environment with high magnet characteristics, which also includes the professional values of nurses. Nurse Managers should investigate the reasons behind the low magnet properties of hospitals, raise awareness, and plan interventions to increase magnet properties of hospitals. Creating a supportive working environment, promotion of the salaries and work environment and decreasing workload are some of the important intervention areas in attracting and keeping nurses in the institution.

An evaluation model for the development of more humane correctional institutions: Evidence from Penghu Prison

Over time, correctional institutions have actively implemented innovations in prison administration. Most correctional institutions constitute conservative and closed societies. Generally, people do not have sufficient knowledge or understanding of penal correction. Therefore, it is difficult but necessary to break the stereotyped impression people hold about correctional institutions, actively integrate them into society, and encourage people to assume a more humane attitude towards correctional institutions. We conducted an inductive analysis of Penghu Prison administered by the Agency of Corrections, Ministry of Justice, Taiwan. After creating evaluation indices for the development of more humane correctional institutions, we conducted a survey to classify the evaluation indices into criteria under the four major evaluation dimensions. Using DEMATEL, we determined the causal relationship among different evaluation indicators and generated an influential network relation map about the evaluation criteria. Using DANP, we subsequently calculated weightings for the influence of each criterion. Finally, using the modified VIKOR, we conducted a gap analysis. The results of this study can be used to build a more positive and human reputation for correctional institutions and enable their sustainable creation.

Strengthening Healthy Work Environment Outcomes Via Interprofessional Direct Care Champion Roles

OBJECTIVE

To provide an organization-wide, systematic approach to creating and sustaining healthy work environments (HWEs) through frontline interprofessional staff education and coaching engagement.

BACKGROUND

HWE has been an overarching concept in the organization's nursing professional practice model since 2014; however, few practice settings routinely translated survey findings to improve the work environment's health via local interprofessional direct care team members.

METHODS

The program used a participatory approach where HWE champions committed to participate in centralized professional development activities and local quality improvement initiatives to bolster the health of area work environments.

RESULTS

Fifty-one champions representing 44 practice settings participated in the professional development program. Mean HWE scores for all standards increased from year 1 to 2, with 15 practice settings seeing categorical improvement. Meaningful recognition and true collaboration were the standards most often targeted for improvement.

CONCLUSION

The HWE champion role appears to be a promising strategy for engaging frontline interprofessional staff in the assessment and implementation of initiatives to improve the health of work environments.

The influence of community health on hospitals attainment of Magnet designation: Implications for policy and practice

AIMS

To determine if there is an association between better County Health Rankings and the increased odds of a hospital gaining Magnet designation in subsequent years (2014-2019) compared with counties with lower rankings.

BACKGROUND

The Magnet hospital model is recognized to have a great effect on nurses, patients and organizational outcomes. Although Magnet hospital designation is a well-established structural marker for nursing excellence, the effect of County Health Rankings and subsequent hospital achievement of Magnet status is unknown.

DESIGN

A descriptive, cross-sectional quantitative approach was adopted for this study.

METHODS

Data were derived from 2010 to 2019 U.S. County Health Rankings, American Hospital Association, and American Nursing Credentialing Center databases. Logistic regression models were utilized to determine associations between county rankings for health behaviours, clinical care, social and economic factors, physical environment and counties with a new Magnet hospital after 2014.

RESULTS

Counties with the worst rankings for clinical care and socio-economic status had reduced odds of obtaining a Magnet hospital designation compared with best-ranking counties. While middle-ranking counties for the physical environment ranking had increased odds of having Magnet designation compared with best-ranking counties. Additionally, having an increased percent of government non-federal hospital or a higher percentage of critical access hospitals in the county reduced the odds of having a Magnet-designated facility after 2014.

CONCLUSION

The findings underscore the important associations between Magnet-designated facilities' location and the health of its surrounding counties. This study is the first to examine the relationship between County Health Rankings and a hospital's likelihood of obtaining Magnet status and points to the need for future research to explore outcomes of care previously identified as improved in Magnet-designated hospitals.

IMPLICATIONS

Recognizing the benefits of Magnet facilities, it is important for health care leaders and policy makers to seek opportunities to promote centres of excellence in higher need communities through policy and financial intervention.

The lived experience of workplace reciprocity of emergency nurses in the mid-Atlantic region of the U.S.: A descriptive phenomenological study

INTRODUCTION

Emergency nurses work under sometimes uncertain conditions to provide care to patients with all kinds of illnesses and afflictions from all segments of the population. Despite implications that they must work together to provide efficient and effective patient care, few studies explore reciprocal workplace relationships of emergency nurses.

AIM

This research sought to illuminate the lived experience of workplace reciprocity of emergency nurses.

METHODS

Using a phenomenological approach with snowball sampling technique, unstructured, open-ended interviews were conducted with emergency nurses in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The original study was conducted in 2013 (n = 9) and a replication study in 2018 (n = 7). Data were collected and analyzed using Giorgi's Phenomenological Method. Results from each study were evaluated for thematic congruence.

RESULTS

Six themes of workplace reciprocity of emergency nurses were identified for both studies: emergency department (ED) culture, balancing, technology, caring, bridging, and connection. An additional theme, bonding, was identified with the replication study.

CONCLUSIONS

Exploring workplace reciprocity of emergency nurses provided insight the influences on workplace relationships. Establishing and nurturing workplace reciprocity may create a culture of safety, connection, enhance work engagement, and influence nurse recruitment and retention.