Developing professional identity: A grounded theory study of emergency nurses' intention to stay

Emergency nurses have high turnover intentions. If strategies to improve retention are to be effective, it is important to understand what motivates nurses to stay employed in clinical settings. This study aimed to explore the process that resulted in emergency nurses staying in their present position.

Glaserian grounded theory was the research design. Semi-structured face-to-face interviews were conducted with 16 emergency nurses who were currently employed in five different hospitals across two large healthcare systems in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Data analysis was guided by the stepwise Glaserian coding and constant comparative methods. The study followed the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research guidelines.

The substantive theory of Developing Professional Identity emerged from the study. Four major phases with resulting conceptual categories explained a process of emergency nurses staying in their present position: exploring identity, weighing in identity options, strengthening identity, and establishing a firm identity.

Our study highlights that intention to stay takes place in a trajectory format alongside the development of professional identity among emergency nurses. The study findings provide phase-specific strategic interventions for nurse managers and administrators to enhance the professional identity of emergency nurses and improve their retention.