CERTIFICATION, EMPOWERMENT , AND I NTENT TO L EAVE CURRENT POSITION AND THE PROFESSION AMONG CRITICAL CARE NURSES By Joyce J. Fitzpatrick, RN, MBA, PhD, Theresa M. Campo, RN, DNP, NP-C, Gregory Graham, MA, and Ramón Lavandero, RN, MA, MSN Background This study was based on the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses’ (AACNs’) interest in determining the value and influence of specialty certification. Objectives To examine relationships between AACN specialty certification and empowerment, and, secondarily, to examine these variables as related to intent to leave the current position and the nursing profession. Methods AACN members were asked to participate in a Web- based survey; 6589 AACN members completed the surveys. Results Perceptions of empowerment differed significantly among nurses certified by AACN and nurses without such certification. Additional analyses revealed significant differences in empowerment related to position, education, salary, ethnicity, sex, intent to leave the current position, and intent to leave the profession. Forty-one percent of the participants indicated intent to leave their current position in the next year; only 6.9% indicated their intent to leave the profession in the next year. Intent to leave current position differed significantly according to age, sex, years of experience, ethnicity, educational level, and certification. Conclusions The value of specialty certification and the impor- tance of empowerment among critical care nurses are affirmed. The next step in the continued journey toward increasing reten- tion of critical care nurses, and thereby improving patient care, is to evaluate existing programs focused on retention and identify needed enhancements. (American Journal of Critical Care. 2010;19:218-229) ©2010 American Association of Critical-Care Nurses doi: 10.4037/ajcc2010442 Challenges in the Critical Care Workplace C E 1.25 Hours Notice to CE enrollees: A closed-book, multiple-choice examination following this article tests your understanding of the following objectives: 1. Determine the relationship between AACN specialty certification and empowerment. 2. Identify the relationship between certification, empowerment, and intent to leave current position and the profession. 3. Evaluate the value of AACN specialty certifi- cation and retention of staff. To read this article and take the CE test online, visit www.ajcconline.org and click “CE Articles in This Issue.” No CE test fee for AACN members. E R B Evidence-Based Review on pp 228-229 218 AJCC AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CRITICAL CARE, May 2010, Volume 19, No. 3 www.ajcconline.org by AACN on July 21, 2018 http://ajcc.aacnjournals.org/ Downloaded from