Identifying effective retention strategies for front-line nurses.

BACKGROUND

Nurse retention is a significant issue worldwide, with many nurses planning to leave the profession. Therefore, it is crucial that healthcare organisations and senior leaders identify effective strategies for retaining their employees, who are their most valuable assets.

AIM

To explore strategies to reduce the voluntary turnover of front-line nurses from the perspective of senior healthcare leaders.

METHOD

This study used a case study design and a qualitative approach. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six senior leaders in one US hospital and documents from the organisation's website were reviewed to gain information on the retention strategies used.

FINDINGS

Three themes were identified from the data: job satisfaction, financial compensation and effective communication. Retention strategies used by the senior leaders included a points competition to support recognition of nurses' work, a stoplight strategy and reports, sign-on bonuses, preceptor incentives, tuition reimbursements, staff shout-out boards and stay interviews.

CONCLUSION

Effective communication, respect, competitive financial compensation, benefits and proper recognition are among the main strategies that senior leaders can use to retain nurses. Shared governance is also important in empowering nurses and subsequently improving retention.