Nurse retention and satisfaction in Ecuador: implications for nursing administration

(2012) Journal of Nursing ManagementNurse retention and satisfaction in Ecuador: implications for nursingadministrationAim This study explores the characteristics of professional nursing workenvironments that may affect nursing turnover and satisfaction within a largeEcuadorian hospital.Background Nursing turnover is a challenge and may compromise patient care.Work dissatisfaction contributes to high turnover. Improving nurse satisfactioncan contribute to better patient outcomes.Method Eighty-eight nurses participated in a quantitative and qualitative surveyfocusing on nursing satisfaction, turnover and selected organisationcharacteristics.Results Issues that may affect nurse satisfaction and turnover were identifiedusing questions from the Nursing Work Index: pay, insufficient number of nurses,undervaluing of nurses by public and the medical team, limited advancementopportunities, lack of autonomy and inflexibility in schedule. Other themesidentified from qualitative data are reported.Conclusions The top factor of decreased satisfaction was low pay as indicated bythe Nursing Work Index. The qualitative results showed that low pay was thefactor for nurse turnover. Additional factors related to nursing satisfaction can beaddressed to improve nurse retention.Implications for nursing management Along with increasing nursing pay,strategies to consider in decreasing turnover and increasing satisfaction included:providing opportunities for nursing advancement, promoting the value of nursing,creating clinical protocols and enhancing autonomy. This study adds toknowledge about nursing needs and satisfaction in South America.Keywords: