Understanding Factors Influencing Nursing Faculty Departure and Intentions.

BACKGROUND: There is a known shortage of nursing faculty in academia. Understanding factors influencing the shortage will help to develop strategies to reduce it. PURPOSE: The purpose was to identify the underlying factors influencing the decisions of current and former nursing faculty to leave or consider leaving their teaching roles. METHODS: A cross-sectional state-level survey was distributed to licensed registered nurses and advanced practice registered nurses. The survey covered demographics, employment status, compensation, tenure, mentorship experiences, and significant factors affecting their decision-making. RESULTS: Of 496 nursing faculty responses (221 current, 275 former), low compensation, unrealistic workload, retirement, lack of appreciation, and personal/family issues were noted as significant reasons for leaving or considering departure. CONCLUSIONS: The study gives voice to various factors influencing nursing faculty's intention to leave and emphasizes the need to address issues of compensation, workload, and mentorship to mitigate faculty shortages.

Factors influencing nurse practitioners' decisions to join nurse practitioner associations.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The benefits of professional association membership to individual health care providers are well established. However, not all nurse practitioners (NPs) are members of professional associations. Research is available on factors that influence registered nurses' decisions to join professional associations, but little is known regarding factors influencing the decisions of NPs. The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting NPs' decisions to join NP associations. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey of NPs (N = 537) was conducted electronically in accordance with the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E-Surveys guidelines. The Professional Association Membership Questionnaire was used to develop the survey. Three hundred twenty-eight respondents (61.1%) had a current membership in a professional association and 209 (38.9%) were nonmembers. Although both members and nonmembers expressed a desire for professional programs, improvement in the profession, and personal development, current members scored significantly higher in each of these factors (p < .001 to p = .015). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that factors influencing NPs' decisions to join professional associations include the desire for professional programs, improvement of the profession, and personal development. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Professional associations seeking to improve health outcomes by creating more competent, safe NPs and keeping the public's trust should consider focusing on efforts that foster education, professional networking and new ideas, and self-improvement.

A scoping review of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses Consensus Model outcomes: Part four of a four-part series on critical topics identified by the 2015 Nurse Practitioner Research Agenda.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) Consensus Model was produced by the APRN Joint Dialogue Group in 2008. The aim of the Consensus Model is to guide state boards on the implementation of APRN practice components, including licensure, accreditation, certification, and education and to clarify the legal scope of practice and APRN roles. The purpose of this scoping review and gap analysis was to appraise the evidence related to patient, nurse practitioner (NP) and organizational outcomes resulting from the Consensus Model. METHODS: A scoping review of research studies and grey literature reports was conducted and focused on the outcomes and key concepts related to the Consensus Model. Areas of foci included patients, NPs, and organizations. A subsequent gap analysis was conducted. CONCLUSIONS: Several positive findings related to the Consensus Model, or components thereof, were identified for patient, NP, and organizational outcomes on various levels. Research gaps exist. Additional research is needed to fully evaluate the health outcomes on a broader scale. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Existing evidence may support NPs and supporting organizations to further legislative efforts to more fully implement the Consensus Model nationwide.