Retaining nurses: the impact of Ontario's "70% full-time commitment".
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of a nurse retention strategy, the "70% Full-Time Commitment", in retaining part-time and casual nurses in Ontario's nurse profession.


METHODS
Using the College of Nurses of Ontario database, a longitudinal dataset for all nurses registered with the college from 1993 to 2006 was created (N=216,353). One-year transition probabilities of nurse employment status (full-time, part-time and casual) were conducted (1993-2009) to generate trends of nurses' likelihood to stay in, switch or leave their full-time, part-time or casual position in Ontario's nurse profession.


RESULTS
After the 70% Full-Time Commitment (2004-2009) was initiated, most full-time (89.7%), part-time (76.6%) and casual (62.5%) nurses stayed in their employment position. A slightly larger proportion of part-time nurses (13.6%) switched to full-time compared to casual nurses (8.6%). However, a similar proportion of young part-time (24.5%) and casual (23.3%) nurses switched to full-time. A smaller proportion of part-time (3.2%) and casual (7.1%) nurses left the profession.


CONCLUSIONS
Part-time and casual nurses have different employment switching patterns. The "70% Full-Time Commitment" was not an effective mechanism in retaining part-time and casual nurses. It might be more effective as a recruitment initiative for young nurses.
Department of Health Policy, Management and Evaluation, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Health Sciences Building, 155 College Street, Suite 425, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3M6 Canada. friedadaniels@me.com
Frieda
F
Daniels
Audrey
A
Laporte
Louise
L
Lemieux-Charles
Andrea
A
Baumann
Kanecy
K
Onate
Raisa
R
Deber
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D009864:Ontario; D010560:Personnel Selection / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000706:statistics & numerical data