| The goal of this qualitative, grounded theory study was to understand the process nurses experience that leads them to leave the clinical field in a large metropolitan area in Virginia. Qualitative research allowed the researcher to study the issues in depth and in detail, while grounded theory study generated a theory of the process. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews involving 10 nurses who had voluntarily left the clinical field. The purpose of this study was to develop a theory from themes that emerged from data concerning the process of leaving the clinical field. From each participant's experience, the researcher was able to develop a story to understand the process of leaving. By using grounded theory approach to analysis data, five stages were developed in understanding the process nurses experience when leaving the clinical field. These five stages are the experience of being a nurse, reasons for leaving, feelings about leaving, like to make the decision, and what it would take to come back. The findings of this study shall provide extended knowledge about nurse turnover to practitioners, hospital organizations, and nurses currently employed in the field. |
