Characteristics of the Nursing Practice Environment Associated With Lower Unit-Level RN Turnover.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Practice Environment
• Healthcare Management
• Nurse Retention

Background:

• Reducing registered nurse (RN) turnover is a key national healthcare quality strategy.
• High RN turnover increases healthcare costs and impacts patient care.
• Understanding practice environment factors influencing turnover is crucial for cost reduction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific characteristics of the nursing practice environment associated with reduced registered nurse (RN) turnover.
• To provide evidence-based insights for healthcare administrators aiming to decrease RN turnover.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from 1002 adult care units across 162 hospitals participating in the National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators.
• Utilized the Practice Environment Scale of the Nursing Work Index to assess practice environment characteristics.
• Employed multivariate linear regression to analyze the relationship between practice environment factors and unit-level RN turnover rates.

Main Results:

• Higher overall ratings of the nursing practice environment correlated with lower registered nurse (RN) turnover rates.
• Units where registered nurses perceived adequate staffing and resources reported significantly lower RN turnover.
• Positive practice environment attributes are key indicators for predicting lower RN turnover.

Conclusions:

• Unit managers and hospital administrators should prioritize enhancing the overall nursing practice environment.
• Focusing on registered nurse (RN) perceptions of staffing and resource adequacy is vital for turnover reduction strategies.
• Implementing targeted interventions addressing these factors can lead to improved nurse retention and reduced healthcare costs.