Academic Journal
Professional experiences and decisions to return to work among nurses about to retire: A descriptive qualitative study.
| Τίτλος: | Professional experiences and decisions to return to work among nurses about to retire: A descriptive qualitative study. |
|---|---|
| Συγγραφείς: | Zhang C; The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinzhou Medical University, No. 2, Section 5, Renmin Street, Guta District, Jinzhou City, Liaoning Province, China. Electronic address: 3335189964@qq.com., Li Y; The First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No. 155, North Nanjing Street, Heping District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China. Electronic address: ly140625@163.com., Nan J; School of Nursing, China Medical University, No. 77, Puhe Road, Shenbei New District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China. Electronic address: nanjiaang@outlook.com., Yang Z; School of Nursing, China Medical University, No. 77, Puhe Road, Shenbei New District, Shenyang City, Liaoning Province, China. Electronic address: 2435866784@qq.com. |
| Πηγή: | International journal of nursing studies [Int J Nurs Stud] 2026 Sep; Vol. 181, pp. 105569. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 19. |
| Τύπος έκδοσης: | Journal Article |
| Γλώσσα: | English |
| Στοιχεία περιοδικού: | Publisher: Pergamon Press Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 0400675 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1873-491X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 00207489 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Nurs Stud Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Publication: Oxford ; New York : Pergamon Press Original Publication: Oxford. |
| Ιατρικοί όροι (MeSH): | Nursing Staff*/psychology , Nurses*/psychology , Retirement* , Return to Work* , Decision Making*, Qualitative Research ; Humans ; China ; Middle Aged |
| Περίληψη: | Background: The global nursing workforce faces a critical shortage, intensified by the retirement of experienced nurses. While retired nurses represent a valuable resource to alleviate this shortage, understanding of the professional experiences and return-to-work decisions of nurses approaching retirement remains limited. Objective: This study aimed to explore the professional experiences and the decision-making processes regarding returning to work among nurses nearing retirement. Methods: A descriptive qualitative study was conducted in Mainland China from June 2024 to June 2025. Using purposive sampling, registered nurses aged fifty years or older and currently in practice were recruited. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews until thematic saturation was achieved. Data analysis was performed using qualitative content analysis. Results: A total of 24 eligible nurses who were about to retire participated in this study. Five primary themes emerged: (1) A career journey marked by fulfilling milestones and persistent challenges, shaping a strong professional identity; (2) Ambivalence towards retirement, blending anticipation for rest with fears of losing identity and social connections; (3) A willingness to return to work contingent on flexible arrangements, meaningful roles aligned with expertise, and supportive policies; (4) A strong desire to legacy their wisdom through mentorship and knowledge sharing; (5) A call for institutional flexibility, policy adjustments, and a cultural shift to value senior nurses. Conclusion: Nurses approaching retirement possess a strong professional identity and are willing to return under specific conditions. To harness this potential, healthcare institutions and policymakers must create senior-friendly roles, ensure fair compensation and legal protection, and foster a culture that respects experience. Effectively reintegrating these seasoned nurses is a viable strategy to mitigate workforce shortages and enhance healthcare system resilience. (Copyright © 2026 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.) |
| Competing Interests: | Declaration of competing interest The authors have no conflict of interests to declare. |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: Nurse retention; Nurses nearing retirement; Qualitative study; Return to work; Workforce shortage |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260519 Date Completed: 20260611 Latest Revision: 20260611 |
| Update Code: | 20260611 |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2026.105569 |
| PMID: | 42155410 |
| Βάση Δεδομένων: | MEDLINE |
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