Explaining nursing attrition through the experiences of return-to-practice students: a mixed-methods study.

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Healthcare Workforce Studies

Background:

• International nurse shortages impact population health and care quality.
• Understanding nurse attrition is vital for workforce stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate attrition among nurses returning to practice in English higher education institutions.
• To identify key factors contributing to nurses leaving the profession.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods approach was employed.
• Data collected via questionnaires (n=114) and in-depth interviews (n=20).

Main Results:

• Over half (52%) of respondents with over 10 years of experience left nursing.
• Primary reasons for departure included poor work-life balance and lack of career advancement opportunities.
• Most departing nurses (84%) found alternative employment during their break from nursing.

Conclusions:

• Nurse attrition is driven by multifaceted issues, including work-life balance and career progression.
• Collaboration between professional bodies and management is essential to address nurse retention concerns.
• Proactive strategies are needed to mitigate factors leading to nurses leaving the profession.