Literature review: Why do we continue to lose our nurses?

Abstract

Objective: To decrypt what determining factors contribute to nurses leaving the clinical facet of the profession.

Primary argument: Nurses encompass the largest professional constituent of the health care workforce in most countries, resulting in the impact of a shortage of these professionals, as immense. A projection in the shortage of nurses is upon us, and the margin in the reduction of these health professionals is thought to be worse than any of the preceding cyclical reductions. More than half of the nursing profession feel they are underpaid and overworked, resulting in the likelihood of patient’s needs not being met, significantly increasing. Lengthy hours, quality of working environments, lack of leadership and the ageing population and workforce, can all be seen as influential factors, in which have the potential to leave this profession in a situation of calamity.

Conclusion: In light of the predicted global demand for nurses over the next decade, the departure and retirement of the existing nursing workforce will potentially result in the loss of significant and treasured experience and organisational knowledge, weakening the capacity and capability of the nursing profession.