Do we really understand how to retain nurses?
OBJECTIVE
To compare views of nurse executives with those of nurses who have left the profession on the importance of retention strategies.


BACKGROUND
Although much has been written about nursing turnover, there continues to be dissonance among decision makers as to why nurses leave the profession and what the most crucial issues are for retention.


METHODS
Factor analysis was undertaken to compare responses of nurse executives with those of nurses employed outside of nursing.


RESULTS
Contract requirements represented the greatest discrepancy, 1.07, followed by legal and employer issues, 1.02; worklife/homelife balance, 0.91; external values and beliefs about nursing, 0.75; and professional practice, 0.29.


CONCLUSIONS
A disparity exists between perceptions of nurse executives and those of nurses who have left the profession as to which issues are most critical in retention. We suggest that nurse executives ensure sufficient organizational support for nursing unit managers who are more likely to understand methods of retaining nurses at the clinical interface.
O'Brien-Pallas
Linda
L
Health Human Resources, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. l.obrien.pallas@utoronto.ca
Duffield
Christine
C
Hayes
Laureen
L
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D003284:Contract Services / Q000458:organization & administration; D003659:Decision Making, Organizational; D004651:Employment / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017009:Professional Autonomy; D012944:Social Support