An Evidence-based Nursing Career Framework

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) Future of Nursing report1 calls on nurses to take a greater role in America's increasingly complex health care system. The number of registered nurses (RNs) needed to care for an aging and medically diverse population is challenging existing care delivery models and resources. Nationally, health care organizations desire to employ a workforce capable of meeting current and future demands while reducing costs and increasing value of services. One way to architect innovative workforce management is to implement a formal career development framework that meets both current and future career needs for nurses. Career management programs are associated with cost savings related to recruitment and retention through affiliated increased professional satisfaction.2 Higher employee engagement leads to higher organizational performance, which is critical for business success and sustainability.3 Nurses connect with their organization in a variety of ways: socially with one another, intellectually through job challenges, and culturally through the mission and values of the institution.4 Affective and cognitive connection drives job embeddedness, which subsequently supports job satisfaction and reduced turnover.5, 6, 7 Professionals have a natural desire to learn, which provides a key leverage point for organizational success.3