Document Type
Article
Journal Title
Journal of Nursing Management
Publication Date
2024
Volume
2024
Abstract
The recruitment and retention of in-patient psychiatric mental health registered nurses (PMH-RNs) remains a challenge. This qualitative study sought to identify factors impacting the recruitment and retention of PMH-RNs in acute-care settings. Participants (N = 15) were recruited for focus groups including one with in-patient unit administrators (n = 4), two with current PMH-RNs (n = 7), and two with nursing students (n = 4). Data were analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. Participants were informed about the study’s purpose, procedures, potential risks, and benefits, and they provided verbal consent before participating. Administrators emphasized a focus on retention and described a variety of supports they provided PMH-RNs, including formal and informal support and education. PMH-RNs’ most prevalent concerns were their safety, co-worker and/or management challenges, and emotional and/or physical exhaustion. Students also expressed concerns about safety in psychiatric settings and desired more interaction with PMH-RNs. They were also interested in learning more about the specialty as they valued the opportunity to see change in patients. All three groups mentioned a need for more interaction between students and PMH-RNs, while safety concerns were expressed by both PMH-RNs and students. Because PMH-RNs play a critical role for in-patient psychiatric care, recruiting and retaining specialist nurses can focus on increasing student engagement with the PMH-RNs, attending to PMH-RNs’ management and staffing concerns, and providing additional resources for responding to events that threaten safety in the workplace to prevent burnout.
DOI Link
ISSN
1365-2834
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Ratnapradipa, Kendra; Houfek, Julia F.; Gearhart, Phoebe; Scheider, Erin O.; Chasek, Christine; Dinkel, Danae; Cordts, Katrina M.; Doyle, Marley; Chaudhary, Priyanka; Bhale, Deepanjali; and Watanabe-Galloway, Shinobu, "Exploring the Dynamics of Attracting and Retaining Acute Care Psychiatric Registered Nurses: An In-Depth Analysis Using Focus Groups" (2024). Journal Articles: Epidemiology. 198.
https://digitalcommons.unmc.edu/coph_epidem_articles/198