Changes in employment status: the experiences of Ontario registered nurses

Telephone survey data were collected from 1,056 Ontario registered nurses to examine employment status (full-time, part-time, casual employment) of nursing professionals over time, through a detailed analysis of different forms of employment status change or mobility. Both internal (within-job) and external (between-job) forms of employment status change were investigated. The survey data revealed that the average duration of employment careers was 16.7 years (+/- 9.2 years), 78.5% of survey respondents reported at least one change in employment status over the course of their working careers, and 54.9% reported two or more changes over time. Changes in family status (changes in marital status and having children during employment career) were shown to be strongly associated with greater external employment status mobility. The duration of jobs was found to be strongly associated with greater internal employment status mobility. Implications for improved flexibility in employment status within health care settings are discussed.