Flexible schedules help retain nurses over age 55

Many experienced nurses over the age of 55 would continue to work if hospitals offered flexible scheduling, non-traditional shifts and reduced patient assignments when they are training novice nurses, a study found. In an interview, lead author and AONL member Kim Slusser, MSN, RN, encourages nurse leaders to look creatively at staffing and to rely on their shared governance models to learn what models would encourage experienced nurses to stay. She says nurse leaders should measure the return on investment of reducing experienced nurses’ responsibilities to give them more time to coach novice nurses. The return on investment should include retention of nurses, job satisfaction and confidence. Slusser is vice president of patient care services at Smilow Cancer Hospital, part of Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health. (HealthLeaders Media article, 1/30/23)