Novice nurse practitioner workforce transition and turnover intention in primary care.

PURPOSE: Little is known about the workforce transition and turnover intention of novice nurse practitioners (NPs) in primary care (PC). This research aimed to describe the individual characteristics, role acquisition and job satisfaction of novice NPs, and identify factors associated with their successful transition and turnover intention in the first year of PC practice. DATA SOURCES: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted via online survey administered to a national sample of 177 NPs who graduated from an accredited NP program and were practicing in a PC setting for 3-12 months.
CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that greater professional autonomy in the workplace is a critical factor in turnover intention in novice NPs in the PC setting. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Further research is needed regarding the novice NP workforce transition to provide adequate professional autonomy and support during this critical period. ©2016 American Association of Nurse Practitioners.