Factors associated with new nurses' career choice as advanced practice nurses: Implications for managing organizational turnover

Abstract

PurposeStaff nurse turnover is a costly problem for healthcare managers, which has been extensively studied. Now, managers are facing a new challenge attributed to nurses leaving their current positions to become advanced practice nurses. We aimed to identify factors associated with new nurses' career choice as advanced practice nurses. MethodsWe used descriptive comparative design to analyze data from 946 nurses who reported working as new staff nurses in 2006 and 10 years later reported working as advanced practice nurses. ResultsWe add to the topic of nurses' turnover by identifying the factors associated with nurses leaving their jobs to become advanced practice nurses. The factors include being younger, not married, enrolled into a formal education program, and having a bachelor's degree at entry into nursing practice. ConclusionsTo better manage staff nurse turnover due to nurses becoming advanced practice nurses, managers should monitor educational policy trends on bachelor's entry into practice, new nurses' enrollment status into formal education program upon hire, and new nurses' demographics.