New research by Maureen Dillon, Lecturer in Nursing, has identified the point at which nurses are most likely to consider leaving the profession, as well as the factors that encourage them to stay.
“Australia is currently facing nursing shortages due to an ageing workforce and high staff turnover, with rural and regional areas facing particularly significant recruitment challenges,” she says.
The study found that nurses were most likely to consider leaving the profession after around seven years of employment. However, when compared with metropolitan nurses, those working in rural and remote areas were more likely to stay in the profession.
“Positive predictors of retention included working in clinical roles, hospital or community settings, higher resilience and access to career advancement opportunities,” she says. “This was particularly relevant when management practices were tailored to rural and remote settings.”
The research also highlighted the importance of supports such as mentorship, reflective practice, resilience training and career coaching to help improve retention.
Maureen says the next step will be to explore the influence of leadership and resilience on nurses’ decisions to stay or leave the profession.
