Date of Conferral

2022

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.)

School

Management

Advisor

Warren Lesser

Abstract

Rural healthcare leader deficiency in implementing successful strategies to retain nurses can deleteriously impact the quality of patient care and impede the organization's financial performance. Grounded in Herzberg’s two-factor theory, the purpose of this qualitative multiple-case study was to explore successful nurse retention strategies used by rural healthcare leaders. Data were collected from semistructured interviews with eight pastoral healthcare leaders in the eastern region of the United States who improved nurse retention and a review of relevant supporting documentation from company websites. Coding was used for data analysis and theme determination. Three themes emerged: effective nurse retention incentives, meaningful relationships with leaders, and competitive advantage benefits. A primary recommendation is for rural healthcare leaders to establish solid and supportive relationships with nurses while minimizing dissatisfiers such as lower pay and non-competitive benefits. The implications for positive social change include the potential for improved nurse retention in rural healthcare facilities. Adequate nursing staff can enhance quality patient care and decrease the potential for adverse patient events, which may improve the quality of life for citizens in rural communities.

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