Successful Retention Strategies for Nurses in Home Visiting Nursing Services: A Scoping Review

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Public Health

Background:

• Home visiting nursing services are crucial for managing aging populations.
• There is a significant gap in understanding effective strategies for retaining nurses in these vital roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify successful strategies and underlying mechanisms for retaining nurses in home visiting nursing services.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review was conducted.
• Searches included MEDLINE, CINAHL, Google Scholar, and Theses Global Databases (2000-2023), plus nursing organization websites (2024).
• Data were analyzed following Joanna Briggs Institute guidance, with two independent reviewers.

Main Results:

• Seven papers met the inclusion criteria.
• Three papers reported improved retention rates at 12 months with clinical and peer support initiatives.
• Eight underlying retention mechanisms were identified: financial incentives, flexible scheduling, team management, feedback, interpersonal relationships, work organization, professional development support, and participation in decision-making.

Conclusions:

• A notable lack of research exists on effective nurse retention strategies in home visiting services.
• Urgent attention is needed to address the evidence gap and inform clinical leaders and managers.
• Evidence-based strategies are essential for retaining nurses to ensure high-quality home-based care.