What is the major reason nurses leave?

[saguaro13]

What do you think is the major reason nurses leave the profession out of these?

1.) Nurse to pt ratio without accounting for pt acuity

2.) Scheduling of staff

3.) Nurses treatment of one another (Management's treatment of staff, etc)

4.) Pay (or lack thereof )

5.) Inability to provide the pt care desired due to administrative requirements.

All responses are valued! Thanks!:wink2:

[Unity]

You ask why nurses leave the profession, but the possible answers you offered and those you are receiving are about leaving the bedside in the hospital, not the profession.

There are many more opportunities in nursing other than hospitals. Look around. Ask others about them on this website. You can still use your nursing knowledge in a variety of settings. Nurses (we) are problem-solvers, good decision makers and critical thinkers. The world needs people with our skill-set. Go for it!

If you don't like being in the hospital explore other options. You can get rewards from being a nurse in a variety of settings. Nursing is so much more.

On the other hand, there are many hospitals in which nurses love to work. Why do nurses still like to be at the bedside in their particular units? What keeps them there?

What does the ideal work environment look like in a hospital? How can we create it?

Evaluate your purpose in nursing and in life. Do they match?

[marybethm]

Very thoughtful post. I think that's a great place to start---what are units who are keeping their nurses doing? I will bet dollars to doughnuts that it has to do with two things. Their coworkers and management. Do they all get along? Are they supported by management? It's like war--the young men who fight say they are fighting for America but I believe they are fighting for their brothers in arms. They don't even know it but the Army knows it.

I am still good friends with nurses I have worked with on certain units from 25, 30 years ago...units where we all got along and even though we worked harder than I ever have before or since, we had fun and supported one another. If you don't have that, you don't have anything and you're not going to retain anyone, unless it's those working for a pension, tuition payment, nurse manager position or to meet some MD and marry him. I still remember one job, years ago, in an ER where the head nurse talked baby talk to her favorites, and acted like she was the queen and everyone was there to carry out her wishes. It was the unhappiest ER I was ever in and unbelievable that someone like that could be in charge. I lasted about two weeks.

Sure, some nurses have specific goals, and work to achieve them. But many of us are just getting from day to day, getting married, raising a family, paying bills and just want a good place to work while life happens. We're open to different units, different areas, different jobs. The basics are important, though: decent pay, decent benefits. Then there are the intangibles like decent coworkers, being treated like an adult and respect from management? That's where you find nurses staying.