A qualitative study of the Victorian critical care nurse labour force

A perceived shortage of critical care nurses in Victorian public and private hospitals, largely attributed to an increase in attrition from critical care areas and a failure to attract sufficient replacement for those who leave, served as the impetus for this project, which explored registered nurses' (RNs') attraction to and attrition from critical care practice areas. Multiple sources of data were utilised, including a series of individual interviews and focus group discussions with critical care students and past and current critical care nurses, telephone interviews with RNs who had completed a critical care re-entry course, interviews with key informants and an analysis of applications to study in a critical care postgraduate nursing course. Results revealed that the challenge of the work, intellectual stimulation, the high level of autonomy, use of increased knowledge and career development were primary motivators for RNs to engage in critical care practice. Limitations to lifestyle choices, practice demands, political changes within critical care arenas, inappropriate remuneration and a lack of career structure and opportunity were salient features of why employment was discontinued within the critical care practice areas.