Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This matched case-control study compared the long-term employment status of direct care nurses based on participation in a psychoeducational group intervention and calculated the estimated cost savings.
BACKGROUND: Chronic stress, in addition to lack of support and low autonomy, can lead to burnout among nurses. Burnout is a common reason for job dissatisfaction and turnover. Interventions combining education with therapeutic processing and peer support may lead to healing and growth in nurses already experiencing the effects of chronic stress and burnout. The COVID-19 pandemic also contributed to stress among nurses.
METHODS: Fifty-four direct care nurses who participated in the intervention were paired with 54 direct care nurses who did not participate, matched on the following variables: age, gender, race, work setting, and campus.
RESULTS: This study found a higher percentage of direct care nurses who participated in the intervention remained employed compared with the matched control subjects who did not participate.
CONCLUSION: At a relatively low cost compared with the cost of turnover by each nurse, the psychoeducational group intervention may provide an opportunity to improve retention among nurses.