Relationships among healthy work environments, nurse retention and nurses' job satisfaction

摘要

Retention of nurses in the workplace is a primary focus of health care systemsworldwide. When a nurse leaves a position in an acute care hospital, replacement costsrange from $40,000 - $82,000 (Twibell et al., 2012). Research has suggested that nurses’job satisfaction and work environments may influence nurse retention. However,research has not clarified the relationships among healthy work environments, nurses’ jobsatisfaction, and job retention in diverse geographic areas. The aim of this correlationalstudy was to explore relationships among healthy work environments, nurses’ jobsatisfaction, and nurses’ job retention. The study framework was structural contingencytheory (Baernholdt & Mark, 2009). The convenience sample was 300 registered nurseswho worked in one of 20 hospitals in a midwestern health care system. Instrumentationincluded the Healthy Work Environment Assessment (American Association of CriticalCare Nurses, 2010) and an organizational job satisfaction scale (Hinshaw & Atwood,1984). Nurse retention was calculated from job turnover rates. Results will illuminatefactors that may be related to nurse retention and provide guidance for nursing leaderswho aim to improve retention, enhance nurses’ job satisfaction, and support healthy workenvironments.