Experiences of Nursing Managers who Utilized Their Nursing Practice Skills in Reentering the Workforce after Retirement

Abstract

This study aimed to determine which nursing managers, rehired after retirement, reflected on their career transitions and identified the nursing practice skills they applied in their second careers. A qualitative descriptive study, employing semi-structured interviews, was conducted with 19 nursing managers rehired after retirement at a facility in Northern Kyushu, Japan. Nursing managers' experiences were analyzed by categorizing them into two groups: chief nursing officers and deputy chief nursing officers as middle managers, and chief nursing officers as top managers. Four categories were identified among top managers: "experience contributing to organizational development as a role," "knowledge and skills gained through experience," "experience developing the next generation," and "experience working positively while utilizing their own characteristics." For middle management, categories included "Nursing ability through experience," "Experience in dealing with any situation with ingenuity," "Experience in developing others to their own strengths," "Experience in maintaining relationships with staff from different industries," "Experience in acting professionally while continuing to learn," "Experience in using age and individuality in their work," and "Experience in working with different industries." A common thread across both groups was the acquisition and expansion of knowledge and skills as they progressed through their careers.