An ageing workforce nurses’ perceptions on retirement and care: an exploratory study
Sikwe-Künnap, Verite Deborah Nafula (2020)
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Lataukset:
2020
Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020060216458
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2020060216458
Tiivistelmä
The ageing population crisis is a global problem affecting all sectors, from economy to health care. To provide solution to this problem, policy makers have put in place laws to increase the retirement age. This is as a result of studies done on the employers' and policy makers' point of view rather than the ageing workforce's (nurses) point of view. While the increase of retirement age seems to be necessary, the effects on the ageing workforce, including the nurse workforce, are also relevant and have often been ignored. Therefore, the aim of this study was to explore the perception of nurses on retirement and subsequent care. The questions that this study aimed to answer are as follows:
1. What are the perceptions on retirement of among nurses?
2. What are the expectations of care after retirement among nurses?
The study explored this topic qualitatively, with the aim to gain an in-depth view of the employee’s perception on the retirement age in Finland and the subsequent care as a result of prolonged working life. Data was collected through a questionnaire and an interview. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions, in English and Finnish. An in-depth semi-structured interview of about one hour was carried out. The data was transcribed and a thematic analysis was performed. Four themes emerged from the data: health, finances, relationship, and understanding on retirement.
The findings revealed that current health, financial and relationship status of working nurses affect their retirement as well as their expectations of care thereafter. The theme of understanding retirement also revealed a relevant cultural aspect which also showed to affect the perception on retirement. The study was done in a Finnish dominated setting, which to a limited extent created a language barrier between the researcher and the participants. In addition, the nurse cohort participating in the study comprised mainly of workers in the elderly care homecare setting. The nurse cohort is very vast, including ageing nurses in elderly care (homecare and institutional care) as well as hospital setting and health centers. Therefore, it would be interesting to perform this type of study on a larger sample of nurses.
The findings reveled that this global crisis cannot be solved primarily by policy makers and employers alone, but in conjunction with the employees. As retirement policies are envisioned to better take into consideration the ageing workforce, and adjustments are being made, the retention of older workers beyond retirement age will likely reduce the drainage of skilled and educated professionals while they transfer their skills and knowledge to the younger workforce.
1. What are the perceptions on retirement of among nurses?
2. What are the expectations of care after retirement among nurses?
The study explored this topic qualitatively, with the aim to gain an in-depth view of the employee’s perception on the retirement age in Finland and the subsequent care as a result of prolonged working life. Data was collected through a questionnaire and an interview. The questionnaire consisted of 10 questions, in English and Finnish. An in-depth semi-structured interview of about one hour was carried out. The data was transcribed and a thematic analysis was performed. Four themes emerged from the data: health, finances, relationship, and understanding on retirement.
The findings revealed that current health, financial and relationship status of working nurses affect their retirement as well as their expectations of care thereafter. The theme of understanding retirement also revealed a relevant cultural aspect which also showed to affect the perception on retirement. The study was done in a Finnish dominated setting, which to a limited extent created a language barrier between the researcher and the participants. In addition, the nurse cohort participating in the study comprised mainly of workers in the elderly care homecare setting. The nurse cohort is very vast, including ageing nurses in elderly care (homecare and institutional care) as well as hospital setting and health centers. Therefore, it would be interesting to perform this type of study on a larger sample of nurses.
The findings reveled that this global crisis cannot be solved primarily by policy makers and employers alone, but in conjunction with the employees. As retirement policies are envisioned to better take into consideration the ageing workforce, and adjustments are being made, the retention of older workers beyond retirement age will likely reduce the drainage of skilled and educated professionals while they transfer their skills and knowledge to the younger workforce.