title: Nurses aged over 50 and their perceptions of flexible working.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences and needs of older nurses in relation to flexible working and the barriers and facilitators to implementation within workplaces.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  An ageing nursing workforce and anticipated nursing workforce shortages require effective approaches to workforce retention.
  
  
  METHODS
  A mixed method approach (focus group and individual interviews) with nurses aged over 50 (n = 46) combined with analysis of district health board (DHB) flexible working policies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants had a good understanding of flexible working and recognised the importance of balancing their own needs with those of their organisation. Participants had legitimate reasons for making requests and became frustrated when turned down. They recommended job sharing, shorter shifts, no night shift and greater recognition of their work to improve retention. There was discrepancy between organisational policy (where this existed) and implementation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Organisations should review flexible working policies, ensuring these are understood and implemented at the unit level. Training of nurse managers is recommended.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nurse managers must recognise the individual needs of nurses, be cognisant of workplace policies regarding flexible working, ensure these are implemented consistently and make the effort to recognise the work of older nurses.
authors.affiliation: New Zealand Nurses Organisation, PO Box 2128, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.|Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clendon
authors.affiliation: New Zealand Nurses Organisation, PO Box 2128, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.|Victoria University of Wellington, Wellington, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Léonie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Walker
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D009726:Nurses / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology*; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D036301:Qualitative Research; D014940:Work Schedule Tolerance / Q000523:psychology*; D000072358:Work-Life Balance
keywords: New Zealand; flexible working; older nurses; retention; workforce