Reflections on recruitment and retention at the unit level.

Abstract

This article describes factors that 451 nurses reported influenced decisions to stay or leave their positions as well as factors they believed would recruit nurses to their units. Similar categories for both recruitment and retention were salary/hours/benefits, personal growth/challenge, work environment/staff relationships, satisfaction/fulfillment, and patient contact. Stress, lack of respect or acknowledgement, and role change related to turnover. The factors are consistent with other surveys across the decade. Implications of these factors for nurse-manager recruitment and retention strategies are discussed.