Policy to Decrease Attrition Rates Amongst Mental Health Nurses

The high attrition rate among mental health nurses in the United States presents a critical challenge, leading to increased operational costs, workforce shortages, and compromised patient care. This policy proposal seeks to address the issue of mental health nurse turnover by offering a structured approach to enhancing job contentment and dealing with stress factors within the workplace. In line with the purpose of the study, quantitative and qualitative data from workforce surveys, peer-reviewed literature, and policy evaluations are combined to determine common retention strategies. Findings indicate that mentorship programs, competitive salaries, flexible scheduling, and workplace support systems significantly reduce burnout and improve retention. Using Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory and the Job Demands-Resources model, this method correlates the job's demands with adequate resources. The intervention aims to reduce the nurse turnover rate by 20% within five years at the systemic level through policy changes. Addressing patient retention broadly will improve workforce stability, quality of service delivery, and mental health services in healthcare facilities.