Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41623357›Full record

ArticleInternational journal of nursing studies advances2026

Key factors associated with nurse retention and how they work: A mixed-methods study.

Neeltje de Vries, Peter de Winter, Sanne Drost-Goossens, Hester Vermeulen, Catharina van Oostveen

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Article in International journal of nursing studies advances, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

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0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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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

5 authors.

Neeltje de VriesIQ Health Science Department, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Peter de WinterSpaarne Gasthuis Academy, Spaarne Gasthuis Hospital, Haarlem and Hoofddorp, the Netherlands.
Sanne Drost-GoossensDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Spaarne Gasthuis Hospital, Haarlem and Hoofddorp, the Netherlands.
Hester VermeulenIQ Health Science Department, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
Catharina van OostveenErasmus School of Health Policy & Management, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: The global nursing shortage poses a critical challenge to healthcare systems. The World Health Organization projects a shortage of 4.5 million nurses by 2030. Contributing factors include an aging workforce and an increasing rate of nurse turnover, driven by high workloads, limited development opportunities, and a lack of managerial support. Intentions to leave predict actual departure and threaten the quality of care, increase patient mortality, and impose high replacement costs. While retention strategies exist, many are not tailored to nurses because nurses' subjective experiences and perspectives are lacking, potentially limiting their effectiveness. Engaging nurses in designing these interventions may enhance their relevance and impact. Objectives: (i) Identify the key factors associated with nurses' retention in hospitals, and (ii) provide an in-depth understanding of why nurses perceive these factors as critical in shaping their retention. Design: A mixed-methods approach, utilizing Q-methodology and semi-structured interviews, was employed. Setting: Dutch hospitals. Participants: A diverse group of 26 practicing and three former nurses. Methods: Participants ranked 58 statements in response to the prompt: " Results: A total of 29 Q-sorts and interviews were analyzed. This resulted in three factors: (A) 'Challenging work and inclusive positioning for high-quality care', (B) 'Room to excel in nursing roles', and (C) 'Being seen, heard, and valued'. Together, these perceptions shaped participants' intention to stay. Additionally, a common pattern across all factors was participants' perception of being structurally unheard. Conclusions: A multifaceted interplay of factors influenced nurse retention. While meaningful and challenging tasks were essential, professional recognition, support systems, and growth opportunities were equally important. A systemic approach that addresses these various dimensions may be crucial for enhancing retention rates, maintaining a high-quality of patient care, and ultimately mitigating the impact of the nursing shortage in healthcare organizations. Nurses may play a crucial role in designing and implementing retention strategies. Their input is not just valuable but most likely necessary for the relevance and effectiveness of these strategies.

Indexed as

Factor analysis [MeSH]Nursing administration research [MeSH]Nursing staff, Hospital [MeSH]Personnel retention [MeSH]Q methodology

Identifiers

PMID41623357
PMCPMC12857392

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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.