title: Nurse turnover in New Zealand: costs and relationships with staffing practises and patient outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the rates and costs of nurse turnover, the relationships with staffing practises, and the impacts on outcomes for nurses and patients.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  In the context of nursing shortages, information on the rates and costs of nursing turnover can improve nursing staff management and quality of care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quantitative and qualitative data were collected prospectively for 12 months. A re-analysis of these data used descriptive statistics and correlational analysis techniques.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cost per registered nurse turnover represents half an average salary. The highest costs were related to temporary cover, followed by productivity loss. Both are associated with adverse patient events. Flexible management of nursing resources (staffing below budgeted levels and reliance on temporary cover), and a reliance on new graduates and international recruitment to replace nurses who left, contributed to turnover and costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse turnover is embedded in staffing levels and practises, with costs attributable to both. A culture of turnover was found that is inconsistent with nursing as a knowledge workforce.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse managers did not challenge flexible staffing practices and high turnover rates. Information on turnover and costs is needed to develop strategies that retain nurses as knowledge-based workers.
authors: University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand. n.north@auckland.ac.nz
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: North
authors: William
authors: W
authors: Leung
authors: Toni
authors: T
authors: Ashton
authors: Erling
authors: E
authors: Rasmussen
authors: Frances
authors: F
authors: Hughes
authors: Mary
authors: M
authors: Finlayson
mesh_terms: D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000191:economics; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D009520:New Zealand; D015401:Nursing Administration Research; D009732:Nursing Care / Q000592:standards; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015279:Organizational Culture; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D014481:United States