Where are the critical care nurses? A statewide analysis of actively practicing nurses? transitions out of the clinical area

Background: Critical care nurse shortages and burnout have spurred interest in the adequacy of nursing supply in the United States. Nurses can move between clin-ical areas without additional education or licensure.Purpose: To identify transitions that critical care nurses make into non-critical care areas, and examine the prevalence and characteristics associated with those transitions.Methods: Secondary analysis of state licensure data from 2001-2013. Discussion: More than 75% of nurses (n = 8,408) left critical care in the state, with 44% making clinical area transitions within 5 years. Critical care nurses transi-tioned into emergency, peri-operative, and cardiology areas. Those observed in recession years were less likely to make transitions; female and nurses with masters/doctorate degrees were more likely.Conclusion: This study used state workforce data to examine transitions out of critical care nursing. Findings can inform policies to retain and recruit nurses back into critical care, especially during public health crises.

Automated summary

This study analyzes state licensure data to explore the transitions of critical care nurses into non-critical care areas. The findings reveal that more than 75% of nurses left critical care within 5 years, with a significant number transitioning into emergency, peri-operative, and cardiology areas. The study also identifies that nurses in recession years are less likely to make transitions, while female nurses and those with higher degrees are more likely to do so.