Practice Environment and Intent to Leave Among Nurse Practitioners Caring for Older Adults: A Secondary Survey Analysis

PURPOSE: Nurse practitioners (NPs) in the United States play a critical role in meeting the demand for older adult care, a demand that will continue to increase over the next few years. Yet little is known about how the practice environment affects job satisfaction and intention to remain on the job for NPs who focus primarily on older adults (GNPs). To address this knowledge gap, we characterized the current geriatric NP workforce and examined how the practice environment relates to job dissatisfaction and intention to leave. METHOD: The current study draws on nationwide survey data from GNPs and NPs. RESULTS: GNPs were dissatisfied with the paperwork burden, their input into organizational policies, and the level of available administrative support. Dissatisfaction with input into organizational or practice policies, opportunities for professional development, patient load, patient mix, respect from physician colleagues, salary and benefits, and sense of being valued were significantly associated with a greater likelihood of intending to leave their position. CONCLUSION: These findings offer practical guidance for health care administrators and managers seeking to build practice environments that support GNPs, improve job satisfaction, and strengthen workforce retention.