Strengthening the Neonatal Workforce Through World Café Methodology

Area of Science:

• Nursing Workforce Studies
• Healthcare Management
• Qualitative Research Methods

Background:

• The neonatal nursing workforce in Australia faces significant recruitment and retention challenges.
• A sustainable workforce is crucial for delivering high-quality neonatal care.
• Understanding nurses' perspectives is key to developing effective strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore challenges and solutions for the Australian neonatal nursing workforce.
• To generate evidence-informed strategies for recruitment and retention.
• To foster knowledge sharing among neonatal nurses.

Main Methods:

• A qualitative participatory study utilizing the World Café methodology.
• Engaged 27 neonatal nurses in collaborative dialogue.
• Employed inductive thematic analysis to identify key themes.

Main Results:

• Four primary themes emerged: Leadership and Advocacy, Professional Identity, Future Vision and Innovation, and Creating a Supportive Culture.
• These themes highlight interconnected factors influencing workforce sustainability.
• Identified the need for multi-level interventions to address identified challenges.

Conclusions:

• A resilient neonatal nursing workforce requires coordinated efforts from professional organizations, leaders, and clinicians.
• The study offers a replicable model for stakeholder engagement.
• Actionable recommendations are provided to inform workforce policy, leadership development, and practice innovation.