Abstract

Nurse retention is a problem that has impacted the healthcare system for years and is predicted to grow as the baby boomer generation retires. In 2022, Mississippi had 29,370 nurses and over half were over the age of fifty (Feeney, 2024). The research highlighted the importance of positive workplace relationships and supportive management to increase job satisfaction and loyalty among nurses. Prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic, nursing shortages had been reported but the pandemic increased those numbers and exacerbated nurse burnout. Nurses pursuing advanced degrees are a population that is leaving the bedside and the deficit in bedside nurses affects patient outcomes. Identifying the motivating factors for nurses pursuing advanced degrees provides key insight into the demographic differences and improvements that can be tailored to help foster job satisfaction which directly affects nursing retention. The research conducted was a descriptive quantitative design to assess registered nurses’ influencing factors for pursuing advanced degrees. Data was collected from a ten-question survey of 179 registered nurses in various fields of practice in Mississippi and the surrounding areas. The study identified key motivating factors such as burnout, work-life balance, job dissatisfaction, and the pursuit of career advancement. Autonomy, knowledge acquisition, and compensation were nearly ranked as top motivators for educational advancement, but the emotional drivers carried more weight than strategic career planning.

Degree

Master of Science in Nursing (MSN)

Degree Date

2025

First Advisor

Dr. Alena Groves

Document Type

Thesis

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