For love or money: registered nurses who return to hospital practice.
OBJECTIVE
This commentary explores the value that returning nurses bring to the hospital setting.


BACKGROUND
Nurses who have left hospital practice, usually due to family obligations, often return once the children are older. They return because they love nursing or they need to make money. They are at a point in their lives where they want to make a difference and miss the nurse-patient relationship. During recessions, nurses return to hospital practice because recessions tend to affect male dominated occupations.


RESULTS
Research and policy literature on the returning and/or older nurse was reviewed with a focus on the benefits and challenges of having returning nurses in hospital practice.


RESULTS
Returning nurses serve as role models to younger nurses. They also bring experiential knowledge to patient situations.


CONCLUSIONS
There is limited research on this group of nurses. Yet they are ready for reentry in short order during nursing shortages. When they return, they add value to the hospital unit.


CONCLUSIONS
Returning nurses want shorter workdays, alternative roles, and less physically taxing work. This can be achieved by offering flexible scheduling and work hours, creating niche roles and providing a more worker friendly physical environment.
Palm Beach State College, Lake Worth, FL, USA.|Barry University, Miami Shores, FL, USA.
Leslie N
LN
Kent
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D062707:Return to Work; D012456:Salaries and Fringe Benefits; D014481:United States; D017132:Workplace
economic recession; nursing shortage; older nurse; reentry nurse; refresher nurse; returning nurse