UA research provides insight on nurse educator retention

Research led by University of Arkansas nursing faculty members identified factors that affect job satisfaction and retention of nursing school administrators and faculty members in a demanding profession.

Both studies used data from The Collaborative on Academic Careers in Higher Education survey related to job satisfaction and intent to stay. They found institutional leadership was the most important factor for nursing administrators and nursing faculty who expressed satisfaction with their jobs and planned to stay in them.

The information is important in helping nursing schools to address shortages of bachelor’s degree-prepared nurses, the researchers said.

“We looked at the data for nursing because turnover of directors and deans is so prevalent in nursing education,” said Jan Emory, assistant professor of nursing. “We wanted to learn what institutions can do to attract and retain educators. The support administrators receive from the leadership of their schools was a determining factor for them. Fortunately, these are modifiable work factors that could influence retaining nurse administrators.”

Both studies found organization culture, personal and family policies were also important factors for the survey respondents.

“Nurse educators say work-life balance is very important and we’re dealing with multi-generations in nursing so for administrators that can be a challenge. Money is also definitely a factor, but, people want to be recognized, appreciated and supported, said Peggy Lee, instructor of nursing at the UA.

Emory adds that young faculty members want a place to go that has resources and a system in place to support their research. She said they don’t necessarily want to “trailblaze the way when they are new to the profession.”

Emory and Lee said they plan future research specific to Arkansas and surrounding states.

Eric Pianalto, president of Mercy Northwest, has said the nursing shortage is serious as schools are maxed out with ample demand from nursing candidates but high turnover in the profession and among nurse educators is adding to the gap between supply and demand of nurses that he doesn’t see being met in his lifetime.

Sustaining nurse educators is key to training more nurses in the future. Pianalto said it’s up to hospitals and health professionals to then look for ways to lengthen the average career span of this physically and mentally demanding profession.