Components Influencing Nurses' Employability in Organisational Transitions: A Mixed-Methods Study

Sustainable careers are becoming increasingly important in nursing, as workforce shortages and high turnover rates challenge global healthcare systems. Employability, which refers to the skills that enable individuals to obtain and maintain employment, is essential for nurses undergoing interorganisational transitions.

This study examined the components of nurses' employability and evaluated their relative importance in recruitment decisions across various healthcare settings in Japan.

The study employed a mixed-methods approach. It comprised a qualitative phase, involving semistructured interviews with nurse recruiters to identify key employability components, followed by a quantitative phase that employed conjoint analysis to evaluate the relative significance of these components. The participants included recruiters from hospitals, long-term care facilities and homecare nursing agencies.

Seven key employability components were identified: long-term retention potential, practical nursing skills, an optimistic approach to challenges, willingness to learn about nursing as a profession and ideology, relationship-building abilities, commitment to organisational improvement and intrinsic motivation for nursing. The conjoint analysis revealed both common and setting-specific priorities. Hospitals valued "Practical skills", "Establishing relationships" and "Motivation for nursing", irrespective of bed size. Homecare nursing agencies emphasised practical skills, relationship building and nurses' motivation. In contrast, long-term care facilities prioritised interpersonal relationships with others. Across all the settings, clarity regarding the reasons for and objectives of previous job changes was critical for recruitment decisions.

This study enhances our understanding of how employability is conceptualised and evaluated in nursing recruitment. Employability is not limited to individual competencies but reflects the alignment between nurses' professional orientation and organisational values, supporting sustainable nursing careers.

This study underscores the importance of tailoring employability to meet the unique needs of healthcare facilities. By enhancing employability, nurses can achieve their desired career goals and adapt to evolving organisational needs, thereby benefiting both individuals and healthcare systems.