TITLE:
Communication and Leadership Strategies for Retaining Registered Nurses: A Descriptive Phenomenological Study
AUTHORS:
Paul F. Johnson, Bridgette M. Hester
KEYWORDS:
Retention, Turnover, Onboarding, Job Stress, Performance Improvement, Leadership, Organizational Commitment, Global Nursing, Job Satisfaction, The Magnet Recognition Program
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Medical Psychology,
Vol.11 No.3,
July
14,
2022
ABSTRACT: This descriptive phenomenological study was to explore how communication and leadership influenced retention of registered nurses. The theoretical foundation of this descriptive phenomenological study is communication and leadership grounded in Burns theory of transformational leadership. The purpose of this study was to expand on and fill a gap in the research of how the lived experiences of nine registered nurses add to the influence communication and leadership has on retention, and to answer the following research questions. What are the lived experiences of registered nurses in the Western United States as they relate to retention when those registered nurses perceive a lack of communication? And, what are the lived experiences of registered nurses in the Western United States as they relate to retention when those registered nurses perceive a lack of leadership? The researcher interviewed nine participants working in hospitals in the Western United States. Thematic and descriptive data analysis resulted in five primary themes, transparency, cohesive workplace, passion, collaboration, and leadership. The study used transformational leadership as the primary leadership philosophy. The results of the study showed that leadership and communication can have a positive, or a negative influence on retention of registered.