Extending ageing nurses' working lives: A mixed-methods systematic review

Abstract

Aim(s): To identify, describe and assess research evidence on factors that promote working until and beyond the official retirement age among nurses.

Design: A mixed-methods systematic review.

Prospero id: CRD42022303890.

Data sources: The CINAHL, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, Scopus, SocINDEX and Web of Science databases were searched in December 2021.

Review methods: The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) checklist was followed. Two researchers independently applied eligibility criteria, selected studies and conducted quality appraisals. Data-based convergent synthesis and thematic analysis were used.

Results: Eighteen studies were included, most of which were survey-based. Eleven studies were quantitative, six were qualitative and one used mixed methods. Our results reveal that willingness to continue in work increased with age. Six factors promoted working until and beyond the official retirement age among nurses: good health and work ability, the significance of work sufficient income, meaningful relationships and support in the working community, individually tailored work arrangements, and organizational support and recognition.

Conclusion: To sustain experienced nurses in working life and promote their working beyond retirement age organizations urgently need to apply throughout working lives supporting age management schemes. Interventions should target supportive relations and individual and flexible arrangements at the workplace. Scarce studies investigated factors contributing to an extension of working life among nurses. Most published evidence on this topic is based primarily on nurses' subjective opinions and preferences: no intervention studies or objective evaluations of factors affecting retirement were found.

Impact: The available evidence suggests the most critical factors for extending nurses' working lives are support and individual and flexible arrangements in the workplace. There is a need to test interventions and evaluate the effectiveness of measures encouraging nurses to extend their working lives.

No patient or public contribution: Systematic review.

Keywords: early; extending working life; nurse; occupational health; retirement; systematic review.