A service improvement project of a Legacy Nurse Programme to improve the retention of late career nurses

Haines, Sue; Evans, Kerry; Timmons, Stephen; Cultler, Ellen

Abstract

Background
A Nottingham Legacy Nurse Programme was developed in response to the reducing supply of new nursing registrants and an aging workforce. The programme comprised components of focused mentorship, knowledge transition, support and development of new learners in practice.

Aims
The work-based development programme aimed to improve the retention and experience of late career registered nurses.

Methods
The programme was informed by the evidence base and co-produced with late career registered nurses (aged 55 years or over, approaching retirement). A small pilot programme (n=6) was evaluated through a mixed methods approach. Refinements and recommendations were proposed in response to findings of a scoping search of the literature, feedback from participants and stakeholder groups across the NHS Midlands and East regions (n=238).

Results
A Legacy Nurse programme has potential to address nurses’ individual career development needs, valuing and retaining them in the workforce, enabling them to share professional knowledge and skills within clinical teams and offers a cost-effective solution to improving retention of late career nurses.

Conclusions
Addressing the needs of late career registered nurses is required to improve retention, job satisfaction, quality of care provision and facilitate knowledge transfer. The programme requires evaluation in other care settings and should be considered as part of an integrated approach to nurse retention, inclusive talent management and workforce planning, alongside financial and careers advice.

Citation

Haines, S., Evans, K., Timmons, S., & Cultler, E. (2021). A service improvement project of a Legacy Nurse Programme to improve the retention of late career nurses. Journal of Research in Nursing, 26(7), 648-681. https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871211036172

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 11, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 12, 2021
• Publication Date: Nov 12, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 26, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Dec 9, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Research in Nursing
• Print ISSN: 1744-9871
• Electronic ISSN: 1744-988X
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 26
• Issue: 7
• Pages: 648-681
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/17449871211036172
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6789324
• Publisher URL: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17449871211036172