Registered nurses are leaving the profession within the first two years of practice at rates as high as 33%. It has been suggested that nurses leave due to factors such as bullying by coworkers, inadequate educational preparation and/or orientation as a new hire, and more recently, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Retention and work dissatisfaction remain key areas of study within nursing research. However, most studies consider intent to leave, versus studying those nurses who have actually left the profession. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the reasons that novice nurses have left their positions within this timeframe. The study included interviews with 17 registered nurses to examine reasons why they left the nursing profession and how they might have been retained. Themes that emerged from this study included Overworked, Family Obligations, Management, Not Completely Gone, and Additional Findings. The discussion of study findings describes potential interventions that may be helpful to retain nurses, such as self-scheduling with manager training and buy-in, and implications for future research. Read the full article in OJIN: The Online Journal of Issues in Nursing.

The Hispanic population accounts for roughly 19% of Americans—the largest minority group in the United States. However, Hispanic adults are the least likely ethnic or racial group to have health insurance or receive preventive care. Their health outcomes reflect this gap.

Several disparities in health outcomes experienced by Hispanic patients span both physical and mental health, according to Giovanna Cecilia De Oliveira, PhD, MSN, RN, ANP-C, PMHNP-BC, a clinical associate professor at the University of Miami, who’s dedicated to reducing health disparities in the Hispanic population. She recognizes that large-scale change needs to come from organizations and communities, but she also understands the power of nurses to improve their patients’ lives. Read De Oliveira’s recommendations for nurses.