"Wisdom at Work: The Importance of the Older and Experienced Nurse in the Workplace"
Barbara Hatcher, Michael R. Bleich, Charlene Connolly, Kathleen Davis, Peggy O'Neill Hewlett, Karen Stokley Hill
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, June 2006
This report, supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, notes that retaining older nurses is one important strategy for stemming the national nursing shortage. Variables such as flexible work hours, increased benefits, newly created professional roles and an atmosphere of respect for nurses are central considerations for hospitals seeking to recruit and retain older nurses, according to the report.
The study brings new insights to the question of retaining an aging nurse workforce; the average age of a nurse today is nearly 47 years. Retaining experienced nurses is especially critical given the high cost of nurse turnover, as well as increasing health care needs as Baby Boomers age.
Little research has been done to test which recruitment and retention strategies are effective with older nurses. The study authors' review of the existing literature identifies four key themes that contribute to older nurses' decisions about continuing to work:
The study was one of the few ever to ask older nurses what would keep them working until retirement. In addition to conducting the literature review, study authors surveyed 377 nurses and held in-depth interviews with 13 experienced experts in health care systems design, executive leadership and management, patient-centered care, patient safety and labor relations.
