Resource Library

New Nurses: Has the Recession Increased Their Commitment To Their Jobs?

2012 Current evidence suggests that the economic recession has induced retired RNs to reenter nursing and working nurses to work more hours and delay retirement, thus easing the projected RN shortage. We wondered whether the economic downturn had affected new nurses’ work attitudes and behaviors, including those related to turnover. Brewer, C. S., Kovner, C. […]


Work Environment Factors Other Than Staffing Associated With Nurses’ Ratings of Patient Care Quality

The impact of registered nurse (RN) staffing on patient care quality has been extensively studied. Identifying additional modifiable work environment factors linked to patient care quality is critical as the projected shortage of approximately 250,000 RNs over the next 15 years will limit institutions’ ability to rely on RN staffing alone to ensure high-quality care. […]


Charting the Course for Nurses’ Achievement of Higher Education Levels

To improve patient outcomes and meet the challenges of the U.S. health care system, the Institute of Medicine recommends higher educational attainment for the nursing workforce. Characteristics of registered nurses (RNs) who pursue additional education are poorly understood, and this information is critical to planning long-term strategies for U.S. nursing education. 2012 Kovner, C. T., […]


A Multi-state Assessment of Employer-Sponsored Quality Improvement Education for Early Career Registered Nurses

Increasing participation of registered nurses (RNs) in quality improvement (QI) is a promising strategy to close the health care quality chasm. For RNs to participate effectively in hospital QI, they must have adequate QI knowledge and skills. 2013 Djukic, M., Kovner, C., Brewer, C., Fatehi, F., & Seltzer. J. The Journal of Continuing Education in […]


Summer 2013 RN Work Project Newsletter

In This Issue Fast Facts Communicating Research Next Steps About RN Work Project Meet the Research Team Download


Verbal Abuse from Nurse Colleagues and Work Environment of Early Career Registered Nurses

This study examined relationships between verbal abuse from nurse colleagues and demographic characteristics, work attributes, and work attitudes of early career registered nurses (RNs). 2013 Budin, W., Brewer, C. S., Chao, Y.Y. & Kovner, C. T Journal of Nursing Scholarship. 45(3), 308-316 doi: 10.1111/jnu.12033. Read the article


Positive Work Environments of Early-career Registered Nurses and the Correlation with Physician Verbal Abuse

Verbal abuse in the workplace is experienced by registered nurses (RNs) worldwide; physicians are one of the main sources of verbal abuse.   2013 Brewer, C. S., Kovner, C. T., Obeidat, R.F. & Budin, W. Nursing Outlook. 61(6), 408-416. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2013.01.004 Read the article


Improvements in Educational Preparedness for Quality and Safety

Ongoing assessments of nurses’ preparedness in quality and safety competencies are absent from prelicensure education programs. 2013 Djukic, M., Kovner, C., Brewer, C., Fatehi, F., & Bernstein, I. Aidarus, N. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 4(2), 15-21. Read the article


Early-career Registered Nurses’ Participation in Hospital Quality Improvement Activities

We surveyed 2 cohorts of early-career registered nurses from 15 states in the US, 2 years apart, to compare their reported participation in hospital quality improvement (QI) activities. We anticipated differences between the 2 cohorts because of the growth of several initiatives for engaging nurses in QI. There were no differences between the 2 cohorts […]


Intersection of Migration and Turnover Theories-What Can We Learn?

The purpose of this article was to compare the concepts of an integrated nursing turnover theory with the concepts of one international migration framework. 2014 Brewer, C. S. & Kovner, C. T. Nursing Outlook. 62(1), 29-38. doi: 10.1016/j.outlook.2013.09.002.          Read the article