Abstract
Background: The persistent nurse shortage is a critical nationwide concern with implications for healthcare and patient outcomes. Without workforce expansion, this crisis will intensify. Limited research focuses on nurse retention, particularly in Louisiana.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate factors influencing the retention and well-being of Licensed Practical and Registered nurses in Louisiana. The objective was to inform the development of effective retention strategies.
Research Question: What is the relationship between a nurse's work environment and intent to leave the profession?
Method: Employing a quantitative, descriptive approach, this research encompassed a sample of 1,209 nurses hailing from Louisiana. The research team adapted the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Registered Nurse Work Environment Survey, with permission, disseminating it to participants using a listserv via an online survey platform . The study received exempt Institutional Review Board approval prior to implementation.
Results: Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Most participants reported they were an RN (n=867, 71.7%) with an average age of 49.68 years. Participants were mostly female (n=1025, 84.78%), white (n=925, 76.51%), and non-Hispanic (n=1129, 93.38%). A Spearman correlation analysis was conducted between work environment and intent to leave the profession. A significant positive correlation was observed between work environment and intent to leave, with a correlation of .56, indicating a large effect size (p <.001, 95.00% CI = [.52, .60].
Implications: Dissatisfaction among nurses in their work environments is evident. Among the 1,041 respondents to the question about recommending nursing as a career, 423 indicated they probably would not or would not recommend it. Results of this study indicated that as dissatisfaction with work environment increases, intent to leave tends to increase. Nursing administrators must prioritize fostering empowering workplaces to include effective retention strategies to retain nursing staff effectively.
Conclusion: This study investigated work environment and intent to leave the nursing profession. In Louisiana, there is a growing nursing shortage of RNs and LPNs. Without interventions to retain this workforce, patient outcomes could be compromised.
Notes
Reference list included in attached slide deck.
Sigma Membership
Epsilon Nu at-Large
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Descriptive/Correlational
Research Approach
Quantitative Research
Keywords:
Nursing Shortage, Personnel Retention, Well-being, Psychological Well-being, Work Environment, Registered Nurses, Practical Nurses, Workforce, Work Environment
Recommended Citation
Chatmon, Benita N.; Jones-Burkes, Ahnyel; and Davis, Alison H., "The Impacts of Healthy Work Environments on Retention and Well-Being of the Nursing Workforce" (2026). Creating Healthy Work Environments (CHWE). 55.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/chwe/2024/presentations_2024/55
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
2026-02-19
The Impacts of Healthy Work Environments on Retention and Well-Being of the Nursing Workforce
Washington, DC, USA
Background: The persistent nurse shortage is a critical nationwide concern with implications for healthcare and patient outcomes. Without workforce expansion, this crisis will intensify. Limited research focuses on nurse retention, particularly in Louisiana.
Purpose: This study aimed to investigate factors influencing the retention and well-being of Licensed Practical and Registered nurses in Louisiana. The objective was to inform the development of effective retention strategies.
Research Question: What is the relationship between a nurse's work environment and intent to leave the profession?
Method: Employing a quantitative, descriptive approach, this research encompassed a sample of 1,209 nurses hailing from Louisiana. The research team adapted the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) Registered Nurse Work Environment Survey, with permission, disseminating it to participants using a listserv via an online survey platform . The study received exempt Institutional Review Board approval prior to implementation.
Results: Data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Most participants reported they were an RN (n=867, 71.7%) with an average age of 49.68 years. Participants were mostly female (n=1025, 84.78%), white (n=925, 76.51%), and non-Hispanic (n=1129, 93.38%). A Spearman correlation analysis was conducted between work environment and intent to leave the profession. A significant positive correlation was observed between work environment and intent to leave, with a correlation of .56, indicating a large effect size (p <.001, 95.00% CI = [.52, .60].
Implications: Dissatisfaction among nurses in their work environments is evident. Among the 1,041 respondents to the question about recommending nursing as a career, 423 indicated they probably would not or would not recommend it. Results of this study indicated that as dissatisfaction with work environment increases, intent to leave tends to increase. Nursing administrators must prioritize fostering empowering workplaces to include effective retention strategies to retain nursing staff effectively.
Conclusion: This study investigated work environment and intent to leave the nursing profession. In Louisiana, there is a growing nursing shortage of RNs and LPNs. Without interventions to retain this workforce, patient outcomes could be compromised.
Description
This study aims to survey Louisiana's licensed practical and registered nurses, investigating retention and well-being factors. The goal is to uncover causes of nursing workforce shortage, inform effective retention strategies, and address well-being issues including abuse exposure. Findings will guide resource allocation for nurse retention and inform the public.