Retention in the Acute Care Setting: Truth and Consequences

Staff retention is directly linked to feelings of control of professional practice.  Powerlessness is a key first stepping stone towards moral distress, especially when working in palliative care. The double-edged sword of feeling unable to intervene in a situation because of scope of practice, combined with a hesitancy to speak up because of disempowerment, can lead to moral distress and issues of staff retention.  Studies document providers often feel anguished when providing care to children or adults in situations where they feel that treatment is overly aggressive, is merely prolonging suffering, and/or survival would lead to such poor quality of life that death might be preferable.  The collective burden of these interactions can lead to avoidance of this population and ultimately loss of valued employees. Participants of this interactive session will explore these issues and strategize solutions in their own environments.