Transforming outcome expectations into retention among hospital nurses: A cross-sectional study.

ABSTRACT

AIM: To examine the main effects and interaction effects of outcome expectations (e.g., anticipated satisfactory salary and benefits), nurse identity (a sense of membership in the nursing profession), and information-access efficiency of the electronic medical record system (how the system enables nurses to quickly retrieve the needed information) on nurses' retention. DESIGN: This study uses a cross-sectional survey and adopts proportionate random sampling to recruit a representative sample of nurses of a medical centre in Taiwan. METHODS: This study successfully obtained completed questionnaires from 430 nurses during December 2021 to January 2022. Data are analysed by using hierarchical regressions. RESULTS: Positive outcome expectations and identification as a member in the nursing profession are associated with retention. Information-access efficiency strengthens the link between outcome expectations and retention, while nurse identity weakens this link. CONCLUSION: Outcome expectations can help retain nurses, particularly those who perceive high levels of information-access efficiency and possess weak nurse identity. That is, outcome expectations have a complementary role with nurse identity in retaining nurses. IMPLICATIONS FOR THE PROFESSION Nurse managers should devise means to build positive outcome expectations for nurses. In addition, either strengthening nurses' identification with the nursing profession or improving the information-access efficiency of the electronic medical system may also help retain nurses. IMPACT This study examined how to transform outcome expectation to nurse retention, offering nurse managers to devise new means to retain nurses. REPORTING METHOD: STROBE statement was chosen as EQUATOR checklist. PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION No patient or public contribution.