An experienced nurse recently expressed her unhappiness with many of the changes occurring in her hospital, but just as quickly emphasized that she still loved being a nurse. "Being a nurse is who I am," she noted. These powerful words defined her identity. She made the choice to stay at her workplace despite several disagreeable new policies and the loss of some valued benefits. Though frustrated, she still felt she made a difference for patients, was good at her job, loved working with the people on her unit, and knew that most healthcare settings were likely making the same moves, so the proverbial grass might not be greener saying applied if she left.
Our conversation inspired me to explore the concept of nursing identity. I have heard many nurses remark, "Once a nurse, always a nurse." But what promotes a strong nursing identity? This is an important question, especially considering the need for solutions to high nursing turnover and staffing shortages that further fuel nursing burnout. To be clear, the answers will not negate the need for a workplace overhaul to improve working conditions; however, they could offer insights into factors that can foster retention, even during challenging times.
A quick literature search limited to the past 4 years focusing on nursing identity and retention in experienced nurses yielded sparse results, with the exception of qualitative research by Krisoffersen.1 In this study, narratives of 13 experienced nurses revealed that making contributions through imparting nursing knowledge and skills in the workplace and belonging to a high-functioning team where they felt recognized for their contributions supported the association between participants' professional identity and their decision to stay in the workplace. These study results align well with the casual conversation I had with the nurse who inspired this editorial. More research is needed in this area.
Nurses need initial and ongoing knowledge and skill development and the full investment of their employers to enable them to make valuable contributions in a workplace that inspires pride in their professional nursing identity as well as recognition from their team. Corners cannot be cut. Nursing work is challenging, but the right mix of work environment improvements and intentional efforts to develop, promote, and sustain a strong nursing identity that is valued by coworkers and leaders might just be ingredients in the secret sauce that inspires nurses to stay.
Until next time,
LINDA LASKOWSKI-JONES, MS, APRN, ACNS-BC, CEN, NEA-BC, FAWM, FAAN
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, NURSING2023
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