The relationship between healthy work environments and retention of nurses in a hospital setting

AIM: The purpose of the present paper was to determine the effect a healthy work environment has on the retention of nurses in a hospital setting. BACKGROUND: There is a nursing shortage that has been ongoing and is expected to continue, resulting in challenges for the healthcare system in the United States. The significance of this issue is the impact the nursing shortage will have on healthcare organizations and patients. EVALUATION: The present paper included an extensive review of the current literature. The literature reviewed encompassed scholarly peer-reviewed journal articles. This article focused on nurses, work environments and the impact of the work environments on retention. KEY ISSUES: Important issues that emerged from this analysis were the dangers of an unhealthy environment, the impact a healthy work environment has on patient outcomes and retention, the Magnet link to healthy work environments and the manager's role in creating and sustaining a healthy work environment. CONCLUSION: The literature provided evidence of the link between healthy work environments and the retention of nurses in a hospital setting. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: The implications for management are to implement changes now to create a healthy work environment that will recruit and retain nurses to secure their position in the future.