Where will I go? Displaced nurses relate their experiences

Registered nurses have been experiencing displacement, the nonvoluntary transfer or reassignment of the registered nurse to another unit or position, or layoff, termination, and severing of nursing personnel as a result of the closure of hospitals and other agencies and the physical relocation of departments or units. The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the human experience of change from the perspective of displaced nurses. Thirteen registered nurses employed at eight metropolitan New York agencies described their experiences of displacement. Their interviews were analyzed using grounded theory methodology. Five themes emerged in the displacement experience: finding out, weighing options, coping with negative emotions and loss, support, and giving advice. Implications for education, practice, and research are discussed.