NURSE RETENTION STRATEGIES IN LONG TERM CARE

1. NURSE RETENTION STRATEGIESIN LONG TERM CARE What is the research question? PICO: In long term care, do formal retention strategies reduce the risk of nurse turnover? Image credit: boca-lawyers.com How could this research change practice? Image credit: minoritynurse.com What is the issue? • Potential to institute an evidence based standard for effective nurse retention strategies in long term care so that nurse turnover decreases and patient outcomes improve • Nurse turnover rates average 34% in nursing home settingscompared to 14% in hospital settings (Heineman, 2010) • Nurse effects of turnover • high financial costs • negative morale • decreased job satisfaction • decreased nurse performance (Rondeau, Williams & Wager, 2009) • Patient quality and safety effects of turnover: • medical errors • higher nurse-to-patient ratios • less time spent with patients • higher rates of infection • increased patient mortality • (Rosseter, 2012) Are there potential limitations with a study? Image credit: tocancer.com What is a possible research approach? • Nurse turnover is complex and multifaceted (Hayes et al., 2011) • Variables • Employer factors • Leadership changes • Management style • Compensation availability • Personal factors • New graduates • Generational differences • Dependents • Perceived job control • Self confidence • (Hayes et al., 2011) • Institute a retention program with components of: • Training and mentorship • Professional development & tuition incentives • Recognition programs & attendance awards • Stepped pay raises & benefits • Adequate staffing & flexible scheduling • (Hunt et al, 2012) • Measure outcome & quality indicators: • Nurse Outcomes • Turnover rates • Job satisfaction • Patient quality indicators • Medical errors • Infection rates • Pressure ulcers • (Spilsbury et al., 2011) Why is research necessary? • Nurse turnover affects the quality of patient care (Rosseter, 2012) • ANA standard for RNs to improve quality of nursing practice and patient outcomes • (ANA, 2010) • Cheryl Howard RN • November 2012