The Social Determinants of Nursing Retention in a Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Unit

Abstract

Pediatric hematology/oncology units (PHOUs) are highly paced, stressful environments and can be difficult areas to work. Thus, these units can present issues when it comes to both recruiting and retaining health care professionals (HCPs). There is scant research addressing how the environment of a PHOU contribute to a HCP’s desire to stay or leave this environment. To conduct this project, a critical ethnographic approach was used. The researcher conducted semistructured interviews (n = 29), which included nurses (n = 21), physicians (n = 4), and allied health care staff (n = 4). This sample represented approximately one third of staff in each category. Participants identified that their ability to develop long-term relationships with children and families as a significant source of satisfaction. Belonging to the oncology team was seen as extraordinarily important to all the participants. The majority of the participants also felt that working in this ever-evolving dynamic medical field afforded them with ongoing learning opportunities. The main frustration described by participants pertained to administrative involvement in the everyday workings of the PHOU, potentially leading to attrition. It is important to note that there was also diversity among and between the categories of HCPs when describing the work environment and the issues that most influence them. While similarities among participants were found between satisfaction and dissatisfaction, significant differences between them led us to believe it would be unreasonable to attempt to compare the three groups here. Thus, in this article the author focused primarily on nursing while noting related observations from physicians and allied health professions.