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Effective retention strategies for midcareer critical care nurses: a Q-method study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Midcareer nurses continue to be overlooked in the current nursing shortage that is amplified in intensive care units (ICUs) requiring greater numbers of specialized nurses.
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this study was to discover what midcareer critical care nurses perceive would be effective retention strategies.
METHODS
As a combination of both qualitative and quantitative approaches, Q methodology was used to allow for the development of innovative strategies as well as to provide an understanding of a population of viewpoints and preferences that can guide retention efforts. Forty ICU nurses between the ages of 25 and 44 years from within a Canadian academic health science corporation completed a 45-item Q sort representing their ideas for increasing staff retention. Data were analyzed using centroid factor extraction and varimax rotation in PQMethod version 2.11.
RESULTS
Four viewpoints emerged: The Healthy Workplace and Respect Seeker, The Flexibility and Reward Seeker, The Professional Development and Teamwork Seeker, and The Lifestyle Seeker. Correlations between the factors were appropriately weak, with seemingly distinct demographics characterizing each.
DISCUSSION
These findings suggest a possible association between perceptions and both years of nursing experience as well as age. Implications from the study include the need to involve frontline nurses in developing strategies that will retain them. Following further investigation of the nurses' preferred strategies, it may be necessary for organizations to develop an array of retention strategies rather than implementing a single solution. In future research, generational preferences and the possible dissonance between nurse managers and frontline nurses' perceptions should be explored.

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  • Publisher Full Text

    • Authors

    Lobo VM, Fisher A, Baumann A, Akhtar-Danesh N

    Institution

    McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. lobov2@mcmaster.ca

    Source

    Nursing research 61:4 pg 300-8

    MeSH

    Adult
    Attitude of Health Personnel
    Female
    Humans
    Intensive Care Units
    Job Satisfaction
    Male
    Multi-Institutional Systems
    Nursing Staff, Hospital
    Ontario
    Personnel Administration, Hospital
    Personnel Turnover
    Q-Sort

    Pub Type(s)

    Journal Article
    Multicenter Study
    Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

    Language

    eng

    PubMed ID

    22743664