ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of factors related to nurse retention. BACKGROUND: Retaining nurses within the healthcare system is a challenge for hospital administrators. Understanding factors important to nurse retention is essential. METHODS: Responses of nurses (n = 279) to the Baptist Health Nurse Retention Questionnaire (BHNRQ) at a 391-bed Magnet® redesignated community hospital were analyzed to explore differences in importance scores of bedside nurses. RESULTS: The results demonstrate that each of the 12 items on the BHNRQ was moderately to highly important. A multivariate analysis of variance based on generation, degree, unit, and experience revealed no significant differences on subscale scores (nursing practice, management, and staffing). Themes derived from the comment section on the BHNRQ were consistent with quantitative findings. CONCLUSION: Clinical and managerial competence, engagement with their employees, and presence on the unit are keys to retaining a satisfied nursing workforce.
Subject(s)
Job Satisfaction , Nursing Staff, Hospital/psychology , Nursing Staff, Hospital/supply & distribution , Personnel Turnover/statistics & numerical data , Adult , Attitude of Health Personnel , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Protestantism , Surveys and Questionnaires , United StatesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The purposes of this study were to develop and test the Baptist Health Nurse Retention Questionnaire (BHNRQ) and examine the importance of nurse retention factors. BACKGROUND: Multiple factors, including increasing patient acuity levels, have led to concerns regarding nurse retention. An understanding of current factors related to retention is limited. METHODS: To establish the psychometric properties of the BHNRQ, data were collected from 279 bedside nurses at a 391-bed, Magnet® redesignated community hospital. A principal component analysis was conducted to determine the subscale structure of the BHNRQ. Additional analyses were conducted related to content validity and test-retest reliability. RESULTS: The results of the principal components analysis revealed 3 subscales: nursing practice, management, and staffing. Analyses demonstrate that the BHNRQ is a reliable and valid instrument for measuring nurse retention factors. CONCLUSION: The BHNRQ was found to be a clinically useful instrument for measuring important factors related to nurse retention.
Subject(s)
Attitude of Health Personnel , Job Satisfaction , Nursing Staff, Hospital/psychology , Personnel Turnover/statistics & numerical data , Psychometrics , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Reproducibility of Results , Surveys and Questionnaires , United StatesABSTRACT
Quantitative PCR (qPCR) techniques have become invaluable, high-throughput tools to study gene expression. However, the need to measure gene expression patterns quickly and affordably, useful for applications such as stem cell biomanufacturing requiring real-time observation and control, has not been adequately met by rapid qPCR instrumentation to date. We report a reverse transcription, microfluidic qPCR system and its application to DNA and RNA amplification measurement. In the system, an environmental control fixture provides mechanical and thermal repeatability for an infrared laser to achieve both accurate and precise open-loop temperature control of 1 µl reaction volumes in a low-cost polymer microfluidic chip with concurrent fluorescence imaging. We have used this system to amplify serial dilutions of λ-phage DNA (10(5)-10(7) starting copies) and RNA transcripts from the GAPDH housekeeping gene (5.45 ng total mouse embryonic stem cell RNA) and measured associated standard curves, efficiency (57%), repeatability (~1 cycle threshold), melting curves, and specificity. This microfluidic qRT-PCR system offers a practical approach to rapid analysis (~1 h), combining the cost benefits of small reagent volumes with the simplicity of disposable polymer microchips and easy setup.
