Struggle Turning Back to Professional Nursing Practice in Iran: A Qualitative Study

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Workforce
• Professional Re-entry

Background:

• Addressing the nursing shortage requires understanding nurse turnover and re-entry challenges.
• Inactive nurses in Iran often return to practice through informal means.
• The absence of a structured Return To Professional Nursing Practice (RTPNP) program in Iran necessitates exploring effective preparation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore strategies that facilitate the preparation of inactive nurses for Return To Professional Nursing Practice (RTPNP).

Main Methods:

• A 9-month grounded theory study utilizing semi-structured interviews.
• Purposeful sampling of nurses, education supervisors, matrons, and head nurses from Iranian hospitals.
• Constant comparative analysis of transcribed interview data.

Main Results:

• The primary theme identified was the struggle of nurses returning to professional nursing practice.
• Key sub-themes included seeking learning resources, needing return-to-practice support, adapting to clinical environments, and balancing professional and family life.
• These categories highlight the multifaceted difficulties faced by returning nurses.

Conclusions:

• A defined RTPNP process is essential for preparing nurses to provide patient care.
• Organizational support and structured RTPNP programs are vital strategies to aid nurses returning to practice.
• Implementing effective RTPNP strategies can mitigate challenges and enhance the re-entry of nurses into the workforce.