Abstract
The attrition of experienced registered nurses from bedside nursing represents a growing concern in the healthcare industry and compounds a national and global nursing shortage. Experienced nurses possess valuable assessment, communication, and critical thinking skills associated with improved patient outcomes. The problem is experienced registered nurses retiring before the age of retirement eligibility. The gap in the literature provided an opportunity for a descriptive, phenomenological qualitative study to explore the lived experiences of experienced nurses to determine which factors influence nurses' decision to retire early. Constructs of the conceptual framework were identified using the Nursing Services Delivery Theory's open system approach. The purpose of the study was to explore the lived experiences of experienced nurses working in hospitals in Virginia to determine factors influencing the nurse's decision to retire before the retirement eligibility age. Participants included 16 registered nurses over the age of 45 years, with at least 20 years of experience in bedside nursing and working at any hospital in Virginia. Data collection included recorded semi-structured interviews and the investigator's electronic journal of notes. A thematic analysis of the transcribed narratives using Colaizzi's seven-step method of inductive reduction revealed seven emergent themes supported by current literature, including a passion for nursing, self-efficacy, rewards, and recognition, generational diversity, physical decline, technology fatigue, intention to leave. A subtheme of moral distress adds to the body of nursing research and warrants future research. The findings and conclusions of the study are included in an organized written presentation.
Sigma Membership
Xi Upsilon
Type
Dissertation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Phenomenology
Research Approach
Qualitative Research
Keywords:
Experienced Nurses, Retention, Attrition, Workplace Challenges
Advisor
Lana Sloan
Second Advisor
David Burrage
Degree
Doctoral-Other
Degree Grantor
American College of Education
Degree Year
2020
Recommended Citation
Sinoski, Janice, "Retention of experienced nurses: A phenomenological approach to understanding workplace challenges" (2021). Dissertations. 765.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/dissertations/765
Rights Holder
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Review Type
None: Degree-based Submission
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2021-07-29
Full Text of Presentation
wf_yes
Description
This dissertation has also been disseminated through the ProQuest Dissertations and Theses database. Dissertation/thesis number: 28092494; ProQuest document ID: 2447994752. The author still retains copyright.