Older Nurses’ Perceptions of Workforce Retention Facilitators and Barriers During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

Nursing workforce retention is critical to provide quality healthcare, raising concern as nurse turnover rates continue to increase. In this study, we examined older Registered Nurse (RN) perceptions of their work experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic to identify facilitators and barriers in workplace environments that relate to RN workforce retention. The methods section describes our study population that included RNs aged 50 years and older (n=195) who completed surveys containing open and closed-ended questions between August 2020 and January 2021. Our study results indicate that most respondents (86.2%) worked during the COVID-19 pandemic in moderate-to-high patient acuity settings and felt their employers provided employees adequate Personal Protective Equipment (73.3%). The discussion section notes implications for nursing and study limitations. In conclusion, workforce retention facilitators included offering resources and implementations that made experienced, older RNs feel included, valued, supported, and protected. Workforce retention barriers were short/rushed workplace orientation, unsafe patient assignments, micromanaging, perceived ageist policies, and implementing pay and benefit-related policy changes without RN input.