BC is currently navigating a critical health crisis, with nursing retention emerging as a primary challenge to the sustainability of the provincial healthcare system. Our UBC Research Excellence Cluster was recently funded to address this challenge; however, specific research priorities have yet to be determined. Current retention research often fails to integrate the nuanced perspectives of the key partners who influence a nurse’s decision to stay in the profession. This project presents a timely opportunity to bridge this divide. By engaging key partners at the outset of our Cluster research, we can ensure that the most pressing needs of the BC nursing community are addressed.
Format, Venue, and Duration: We will conduct 8-10 individual, semi-structured virtual and in-person interviews conducted over a three-month period. Each session will last 60 to 75 minutes and will be hosted via Zoom or in-person (where possible). This “one-on-one” approach is intentional; it provides a space for partners to speak candidly about systemic barriers, institutional challenges, and other information that might not be shared in a group setting. Following the interviews, a virtual “Validation Summary” document will be circulated to all participants for a two-week review period to ensure their perspectives were captured accurately. These summaries will then be used to set the research priorities of our Cluster.
Description of Participants: We will key partners who represent the “retention ecosystem” in British Columbia, including participants from policy & union leadership and health authority administration.
Anticipated Outcomes The primary outcome of these dialogues is the co-development of a prioritized research agenda. Specific goals include:
1. Identifying Knowledge Gaps: Determining which specific factors (e.g., clinical mentorship, scheduling flexibility, psychological safety, etc.) are currently under-researched in the BC context.
2. Enhancing Knowledge Translation: Establishing a “Practice-to-Research” feedback loop.
3. Strengthening Partnerships: Building the foundational trust required for long-term collaboration.
4. Resource Mapping: Identifying existing datasets or internal health authority reports that could inform future phases of the study.
Ultimately, this engagement ensures that the research produced by our Cluster is relevant, rigorous, and ready to be implemented within the BC health system address the nursing shortage.