Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41204214›Full record

ArticleBMC nursing2025

Going into the final chapters of a nursing career: nurses' lived experiences and perspectives on pre-retirement in South Korea.

Jeong Sook Lee, Haejin Kim

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC nursing, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

2 authors.

Jeong Sook LeeDepartment of Nursing, Masan University, 2640 Hamma-daero, Naeseo-eup, Masanhoewon-gu, Changwon, 51217, South Korea.
Haejin KimDepartment of Nursing, Changwon National University, 20 Changwondaehak-ro, Uichang-gu, Changwon, 51140, South Korea. kimhj0130@changwon.ac.kr.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRetirement is a critical life transition that requires emotional, psychological, and social adjustments. For nurses in South Korea, who typically spend over three decades in clinical practice, little is known about their pre-retirement experiences and perspectives. This study aimed to explore how nurses nearing retirement reflect on their careers, respond emotionally, and envision life after retirement.

methodsAn exploratory qualitative design was employed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 nurses working at four general hospitals in South Korea, all within five years of mandatory retirement. Data were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's six-phase thematic analysis.

resultsFive themes were identified: Reflection in a life like late autumn, Rest at the end of passion, Worries about having to fill in the blank, Expectations for strengthening family and social relationships, and Confidence in challenges and self-realization. Participants described mixed emotions of loss, relief, and pride, along with anxiety stemming from insufficient preparation. At the same time, they expressed hopes for strengthened family ties, new social affiliations, and self-realization, albeit often without concrete plans.

conclusionsThis study highlights that nurses approaching retirement undergo psychological and emotional transitions while facing limited practical preparation. Tailored counseling, education, and systematic retirement programs are needed to support this transition. At organizational and community levels, mechanisms to sustain professional identity and utilize retirees' expertise in mentoring and community health can positively influence both nurses' post-retirement well-being and healthcare resources.

Indexed as

InterviewNursePre-retirementPsychological transitionQualitative researchRetirementRetirement preparation

Identifiers

PMID41204214
PMCPMC12598775

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.