Optimal Entry Age and Retiring Age of Nursing

Optimal Entry Age and Retiring Age of Nursing

Optimal Entry Age and Retiring Age of Nursing

Today, the average age of nursing faculty in baccalaureate and graduate degree programs is 51.5 years and the rate of projected retirements will exceed the rate of replacements. Nurses enter the faculty role later in their careers and typically retire at an earlier age, around 62.5 years. More efforts need to be put into place to encourage those already teaching to remain in their positions even if it is in a limited capacity while future faculty are educated. (Johnson, 2004, 2)

What factors are present that facilitate the desire for nursing faculty to retire? Kowalski, Dalley, and Weigand conducted a cross-sectional, randomized study of 129 nurse educators teaching in 61 schools of nursing to find out what personal decisions influenced their retirement plans. With a 37.6% response rate, results reflected that the mean age of planned retirement was 64.4 years. However, the mean age respondents would like to retire was 62.4. Factors influencing retirement included workplace issues, personal and family health, attitudes about retirement, and financial security. One of the most important factors influencing retirement plans was financial security. Faculty members who were financially secure retired earlier. Job satisfaction was another important influencing factor resulting in early retirement. In lieu of the faculty shortage, the authors contend that studies such as this will offer insight into future retirement trends which may help bridge the gap between supply and the demand of nurse educators . From the results of this one study it may be important to consider the needs of the aging faculty by providing healthy, satisfying, and stimulating work environments, appropriate benefits packages, and relaxing mandatory retirement ages. (Johnson, 2004, 2)

The effects of the faculty shortage on the nursing shortage are costly. The demand for nurses is high and yet the supply is low and will only worsen. The projected shortfall of full-time RNs will be 36% by 2020 as seen in Table 1. Hospitals are paying higher costs for traveler nurses to fill the void of staff nurses at a cost of $60 to $75 an hour . The cost of health care is increased by the shortages as hospitals worry about quality and availability of care. They now must pay more and utilize nursing agencies that charge two to three times the average nursing rate. ...