ENHANCING THE RETENTION OF PROFESSIONAL NURSES IN THE SOUTH AFRICAN HEALTHCARE SECTOR

This research study investigates the current migration situation amongst professional nurses within the South African healthcare sector, with the aim of enhancing the retention of these workers. Secondary data collection was utilized to assess the attrition rate of healthcare nursing professionals in South Africa which is described and, the factors influencing the internal and external movements of nursing professionals in South Africa is evaluated. Non-probability sampling was adopted to draw the study sample to collect data in the original study from nurses registered with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) employing a mixed method approach to data collection and analysis. Based on the findings of the study, recommendations are presented to enhance the retention of these professional nurses. Although it is not known where South African nurses are lost to, the country is experiencing a critical shortage of nurses. This is negatively impacting its healthcare organizations, which calls for more diligent and strategic governance. The attrition of nurses within the country and the emigration of healthcare workers cannot be confirmed as South Africa does not have good governance of record keeping in this respect. Nurses are being lost to attrition due to poor compensation, poor working environments, insufficient development and growth opportunities in the workplace. The majority of nurses emigrate for financial reasons and for the international experience. Recommendations are presented to enhance retention and control the retention of nursing professionals, thereby affording the country an opportunity to timeously enhance healthcare service delivery in South Africa.