Factors related to nurse retention and turnover: an updated study

How to attract and retain hospital registered nurses (RNs) has become a recurring theme discussed by hospital boards, administrators and physicians in the U.S. This study seeks to provide current data on this situation. The exploratory research effort consisted of 13 depth interviews with physicians in a major metropolitan area in the southeastern U.S. and less formal discussions with six hospital nurse administrators. The formal research effort involved hand-delivering questionnaires to nurse administrators for distribution to nurses in six hospitals in the same region. The principle reasons nurses change jobs fall into four categories: salary or benefits, convenience, work schedule, and job-related stress. After one or more hospital moves the nurses become more satisfied. Hospital administrators should institute motivational and hospital commitment programs to improve retention/reduce turnover, e.g., work schedule rotation, work responsibility rotation, team approaches to health care and award/recognition programs.