Grant: Team Grant: Strengthening the Health Workforce for System Trans.:Aging Workforce

Canada's healthcare system continues to deal with serious workforce challenges. Nurses are the largest group of practitioners in the health system and ongoing shortage pressures are making issues of retention and recruitment even more urgent. This is particularly true for nurses in the later stages of their careers. In Alberta Health Services (AHS) more than 26% of the nursing staff is over the age of 50 with many nearing retirement age. In order to retain the expertise and knowledge of this critical group the aim of this project is to advance the Retention through Experienced and Aspiring Career Harmony or REACH program. This leadership track for late-career nurses will reduce direct patient care responsibility in favour of mentorship of novice nurses in highly specialized and high risk areas. Evidence supports the value of workload reduction and leadership initiatives as a reliable retention strategy for senior nursing staff. This implementation study will be guided by the RE-AIM framework using a mixed methods approach.