Human resource management strategies for the retention of nurses.

The role of human resource management (HRM), in a strategic approach to management, is to integrate HRM policies with business strategies to ensure employee commitment, flexibility and quality performance (Legge, 1995). HRM professionals of the future will require knowledge of the business of their particular organisation to ensure HRM adds value, by focusing on a learning environment that operates on a productive model of interdependence between personnel and their organisation, family, colleagues and society. Organisations must work in partnership with their employees, as employees are valuable assets to be nourished. Vital strategies to achieve this are utilisation of career development, autonomy, meaningful jobs, learning opportunities, supportive supervisors and flexibility in work scheduling. The focus of this article is the critical problem facing health care managers across Australia today, that is the retention of nursing staff in hospitals and health care facilities.