Highlights
- •Registered nurse (RN) turnover research lacking data about equity and wellness in workforce.
- •Minimal robust data available on interventions that improve retention of RNs.
- •Community-based and ambulatory care RNs missing in most turnover research.
- •RN turnover research needs to move beyond descriptive survey studies.
Abstract
Background
The pandemic has highlighted the struggles of nurses and risks of workforce shortages.
Analysis of nurses’ job decisions is necessary to mitigate these risks.
Purpose
The purpose of this systematic review was to understand factors associated with registered
nurse (RN) work outcomes in the United States, and to examine the inclusion of equity
and wellness concepts in this body of literature.
Methods
This review utilized the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses
protocol. Studies from PubMed and CINAHL were included if they focused on RNs in the
United States in the past 10 years. A total of 34 studies are included in the review.
Findings
RN work outcomes are impacted by individual, unit level, and organizational factors.
Few studies address equity, and many only address RN health in terms of burnout.
Discussion
Future work needs to draw samples from broader practice settings, focus on interventions
that promote positive outcomes, and focus on equity and the wellbeing of RNs.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 04, 2022
Accepted:
April 30,
2022
Received in revised form:
April 13,
2022
Received:
January 7,
2022
Identification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
