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Staying or straying? Early-career nurses' decisions to remain in clinical practice: A phenomenological study
Sayed Ibrahim Ali1, Mostafa Shaban2
1Department of Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al Hofuf, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia.
Background:
Early-career nurses are vital to healthcare systems but experience high attrition within the first five years of practice. Limited qualitative research has explored the lived experiences shaping their decisions to remain in or leave bedside roles.
Purpose:
This study explored how early-career nurses interpret and navigate their decisions to stay in or consider leaving clinical practice.
Methods:
A descriptive phenomenological design was employed. Semi-structured interviews with 21 nurses (<5 years' experience) from a Saudi university hospital were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. Trustworthiness was ensured through member checking and triangulation.
Discussion:
Four themes emerged: wrestling with reality, seeking belonging and recognition, balancing passion and exhaustion, and staying through meaning or straying through neglect. Emotional and relational factors outweighed financial motivations.
Conclusion:
Retention strategies should emphasize mentorship, recognition, and supportive career pathways to sustain early-career nurses and strengthen workforce stability.
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