Predictors of nurse practitioner retention.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Increased utilization of nurse practitioners (NPs) has been proposed to reduce the shortage of primary care providers, so identifying factors related to retention of NPs is important for health care organizations. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of Misener Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction Scale factors and nurse demographic characteristics with NP retention, as defined by the number of years at the current position and intention to leave the current position within 5 years.

METHODS: A survey was distributed via email to members of the Texas NP Organization.

CONCLUSIONS: Three hundred fifteen NPs participated in the study. Years of experience (p < .001), salary (p = .018), and benefits (p = .007) were significantly associated with longer duration of employment at the current position, after controlling for the other variables in the linear regression model. After adjusting for the other variables in the logistic regression model, higher challenge/autonomy factor scores (p = .016) and higher annual salary (p = .032) were associated with significantly lower odds of intention to leave the current position within 5 years.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Interventions to increase NP autonomy and facilitate employment in positions with more competitive salaries are likely to improve NP retention.