Nurses’ intention to work after retirement, work ability and perceptions after retirement: a scoping review

Abstract

Nurses have been identified as active workforce post-retirement. Little is known about nurses' intention to work post-retirement and their work ability
and perceptions post-retirement. The aim of this scoping review is to identify studies that have investigated nurses' intention and recruitment
strategies to work post-retirement and their work ability and perceptions post-retirement. PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, Nursing and Health
Database and in addition Google scholar were searched using different keywords (retired nurses, retired RNs, work intention, work ability, work
perceptions, and older nurses) and an independent reviewer cross-validated all the identified articles. Of the thirty-seven studies identified from the
search, 26 papers were excluded based on exclusion criteria, with a total of 11 studies finally included in the study sample. The review found in two
studies low and high intentions to work as nurses after retirement. Factors influencing both intentions and recruitment strategies to work as a nurse
post-retirement focused on lighter and flexible work conditions, supportive environment, financial incentives and formal rehiring policies. Nurses
working post-retirement reported benefits (intrinsic factors such as self-worth, overcoming social isolation) and barriers (such as job demands and
reduced physical work ability). The review found low and high intentions to work as nurses after retirement and identified fa ctors influencing both
intentions and recruitment strategies to work as a nurse post-retirement and benefits and barriers of working as nurses post-retirement that can
inform strategies to retain nurses post-retirement.