Movements in the enrolled nurse workforce in New South Wales: results of a survey.

ABSTRACT

2,200 enrolled nurses (ENs) in N.S.W. were surveyed about their current participation in the workforce. The survey showed that ENs tended to move in and out the workforce. More than 75% of respondents had left the EN workforce during their career for an average period of five years. The employment status of three cohorts (1980, 1982, and 1984) of ENs as examined over several years. Most losses from a cohort occurred within the first 12 months; trainee ENs showed the highest losses. Two important movements by ENs in recent years were uncovered. There has been an increase in the proportion of respondents working part-time and casual. Also, in more recent years ther has been an increased return of ENs to the workforce, resulting in a net gain in employment in 1985. In the latter case it appears that the increased returns follow a peak in the number of ENs trained in the late 1970s. As such, the growth in employment in unlikely to continue. The increase in the rate of return may also relate to the shortage of RNs. Shortages of nurses may have increased the opportunities for part-time or preferred shifts employment which attracted ENs to return to the workforce. ENs seem to leave the workforce due to family reasons particularly child bearing. The most frequently mentioned reason for returning to work is financial necessity. Whilst the turnover indicated in this study is high the net wastage is very low. Whilst the rate of loss remains constant the rate of return increases. It is difficult to determine whether the low wastage rate means that ENs are not as dissatisfied as they reported in this study or that they do not have better employment opportunities.