Shifting the Paradigm Toward Intent to Stay: A Career Crafting® Program to Increase Nurse Engagement
Abstract
Nearly 50% of all RNs experience job disengagement, dissatisfaction, and signs of burnout during their career (National Academy of Medicine, 2019). RN burnout is largely associated with two predominant themes: perception of engagement in meaningful and motivating work and perception of personal ability to disconnect and decompress (Press Ganey, 2018). The techniques in this program guide people to experience work as a career and calling and find meaning in their work despite complex or difficult contexts. Through guided reflection on key elements of career success and available, but often unknown or under-utilized organizational resources, nurses learn to align their nursing career path with their identified purpose.
Using the DMAIC model, a novel program was designed from select elements of job crafting in other industries and set within the IHI Joy in Work as a supportive framework. The program delivered a guided curriculum including Task Crafting, Relational Crafting, and Cognitive Crafting skills in sequential 20-minute virtual on-demand modules. The project was implemented on the system’s educational platform and made accessible to all RNs in the organization for an 8-week period. The pilot sample was initially limited to the first 30 RNs to enroll (n=30), with an additional three cohorts slated for post program implementation and demand growing.
Evaluation of this project was completed using descriptive and bivariate statistics. A questionnaire was administered via QR code/weblink pre -and post- program, and a paired T test was used to evaluate knowledge acquisition and intent to engage in Task, Cognitive, and Relational crafting activities. Mean scores were analyzed and proved significantly higher (p=<0.0001) post - program when compared to pre-program scores on all 12 self-efficacy items measured. Program evaluation consisting of open-ended questions assessed participant satisfaction upon completion as it related to their intent to stay with the organization. Eighty-seven percent of the participants reported that the program positively influenced their decision to remain with the organization. This stands in stark contrast to preliminary survey findings one year prior where less than a quarter of the Nursing workforce would favorably recommend it as a workplace.
This novel program successfully demonstrated increased perception of engagement by a majority of participants. Due to the compelling findings of the project and continued high interest in enrollment by hospital RNs, the program has potential for scale across this hospital system as well as regionally and nationally as a dynamic nursing workforce solution.
Notes
References:
National Academy of Medicine. (2019). Taking Action Against Clinician Burnout: A Systems Approach to Professional Well-Being. National Academies Press.
Press Ganey. (2018). Burnout and resilience: A framework for data analysis and a positive path forward: 2018 performance insights report. http://healthcare.pressganey.com/2018-Burnout-Resilience
Sigma Membership
Delta Mu
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Work Engagement, Hospital Nursing Staff, Registered Nurses, Job Satisfaction, Commitment, Career Crafting
Recommended Citation
Davis, Jaclyn E., "Shifting the Paradigm Toward Intent to Stay: A Career Crafting® Program to Increase Nurse Engagement" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 120.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/120
Conference Name
Creating Healthy Work Environments
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Washington, DC, USA
Conference Year
2024
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record. All permission requests should be directed accordingly and not to the Sigma Repository. All submitting authors or publishers have affirmed that when using material in their work where they do not own copyright, they have obtained permission of the copyright holder prior to submission and the rights holder has been acknowledged as necessary.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Date of Issue
2026-03-04
Shifting the Paradigm Toward Intent to Stay: A Career Crafting® Program to Increase Nurse Engagement
Washington, DC, USA
Nearly 50% of all RNs experience job disengagement, dissatisfaction, and signs of burnout during their career (National Academy of Medicine, 2019). RN burnout is largely associated with two predominant themes: perception of engagement in meaningful and motivating work and perception of personal ability to disconnect and decompress (Press Ganey, 2018). The techniques in this program guide people to experience work as a career and calling and find meaning in their work despite complex or difficult contexts. Through guided reflection on key elements of career success and available, but often unknown or under-utilized organizational resources, nurses learn to align their nursing career path with their identified purpose.
Using the DMAIC model, a novel program was designed from select elements of job crafting in other industries and set within the IHI Joy in Work as a supportive framework. The program delivered a guided curriculum including Task Crafting, Relational Crafting, and Cognitive Crafting skills in sequential 20-minute virtual on-demand modules. The project was implemented on the system’s educational platform and made accessible to all RNs in the organization for an 8-week period. The pilot sample was initially limited to the first 30 RNs to enroll (n=30), with an additional three cohorts slated for post program implementation and demand growing.
Evaluation of this project was completed using descriptive and bivariate statistics. A questionnaire was administered via QR code/weblink pre -and post- program, and a paired T test was used to evaluate knowledge acquisition and intent to engage in Task, Cognitive, and Relational crafting activities. Mean scores were analyzed and proved significantly higher (p=<0.0001) post - program when compared to pre-program scores on all 12 self-efficacy items measured. Program evaluation consisting of open-ended questions assessed participant satisfaction upon completion as it related to their intent to stay with the organization. Eighty-seven percent of the participants reported that the program positively influenced their decision to remain with the organization. This stands in stark contrast to preliminary survey findings one year prior where less than a quarter of the Nursing workforce would favorably recommend it as a workplace.
This novel program successfully demonstrated increased perception of engagement by a majority of participants. Due to the compelling findings of the project and continued high interest in enrollment by hospital RNs, the program has potential for scale across this hospital system as well as regionally and nationally as a dynamic nursing workforce solution.
Description
Career Crafting guides people to experience work as a calling and find purpose in their work despite difficult contexts. Through guided reflection on key elements of career development and available, but often unknown or under-utilized organizational resources, nurses learn to align their nursing career path with their identified purpose.