Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Doctor of Healthcare Administration (D.H.A.)

School

Health Services

Advisor

Nicole McGuire

Abstract

Newly licensed nurse turnover can be costly, causing a mismatch between supply and demand for nurse staffing needs, lowering quality outcomes, and decreasing patient satisfaction. This quantitative study was conducted to identify the relationship between why newly licensed nurses selected their first position and their retention in that initial position. Other factors examined in relation to retention were unit most worked, age, race, sex, and education level. Irvine and Evans’s theory of job satisfaction and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs guided the analysis of the data. Secondary data used were the Newly Licensed Registered Nurse New Cohort 3 Survey from 2016 as part of the RN Work Project by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Analysis showed the following reasons, both professional and personal, had a statistically significant positive relationship for newly licensed nurses retaining their initial position: (a) clinical experience there while a student, (b) job had the best working conditions, (c) organizational reputation, (d) best interprofessional relationships, (e) wanted to move to or live in that area, and (f) commute to work was short. Reasons showing a statistically significant negative relationship with retention were (a) only full-time position working as an RN that was offered, (b) unit most worked other, and (c) age ≥ 50. The findings of this study have potential implications for positive social change by improving recruiting practices, decreasing nurse turnover, and improving job satisfaction among newly licensed nurses.

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