Designing an Adaptation Model for Retired Nurses

Abstract

Background & Aims: Increasing number of retirees and improved life expectancy has been resulted in increased retirement years. The status of Iranian nurses seems to be different from nurses in other countries yet no model has been proposed regarding the adaptation of nurses with retirement. The aim of this study was to propose an adaptation model for retired nurses. Material & Methods: It was a qualitative grounded theory study. The participants were 20 retired nurses from Semnan city who were recruited by purposeful and theoretical sampling. In the first stage data was generated by semi- structured interviews. Field notes were also used as data. Data collection and analysis by constant comparison was done simultaneously using Strauss and Corbin method. In the second stage, the model of adaptation with retirement was composed using the themes emerged in the first stage and literature review according to the Walker and Avant method. Results: the proposed Model included some stages for nurses’ adaptation with retirement: preparation for the experience of retirement, identity reconstruction strengthening, optimum use of supportive factors, attention to negative interactions, and providing facilities for a normal life. Conclusion: Since retirement is not a mono- stage, simple transition process, but is an adaptation process that occurs during time, the proposed model would help nurse retirees to control stressors and imbalances in their lives and adapt with retirement successfully.

Keywords

• adaptation
• retirement
• nurse
• model