| With the looming shortage of nurses and nursing faculty, the retention of nursing faculty is essential to the future of nursing. Little qualitative research has addressed the factors that impact retention of nursing faculty in associate degree nursing programs. Therefore, the research question for this study was, What are the factors that influence non-tenured nurse educator retention in two-year associate degree nursing programs? The supporting subquestion was, What are the experiences of associate degree nurse educators who have stayed in nursing education? This basic qualitative study included interviews with open-ended questions to collect data. Eight full-time nursing educators in associate degree nursing programs in the upper Midwest described their experiences with peer and administrative support and the impact their experiences as educators had on the nursing profession, students, and community. Data analysis included open coding and the development of categories, initially completed manually and then verified using qualitative software. Five themes emerged from faculty members' responses: student success, supportive relationships, college and program direction, making an impact, and job characteristics. These themes illuminated the factors that affect retention in associate degree nursing programs and contributed to the knowledge on retaining nursing faculty. Implications of these findings will enhance future efforts to recruit and retain nursing faculty in associate degree nursing programs. |
