Chief Nurse Executives involuntary turnover in times of health care reforms: Findings from an interpretative phenomenology study

In recent years, due to several health care system reforms in different countries, an increased involuntary turnover rate of Chief Nurse Executives has been reported around the World. However, no data on their perceived experience of their dismissal have been documented up to now in the European context. Describing the experience of involuntarily dismissed Chief Nurse Executives was the main aim of this interpretative phenomenological study. Data were collected through face-to-face audiotaped interviews performed by involving a purposeful sample of 13 Chief Nurse Executives; data analysis was performed by using the QSR NVIVO 11 software. The Chief Nurse Executives’ experience of Being fired is characterized by three main themes: (1) “Health Care Institutions are places influenced by political turbulences”; (2) “My competence and presence in the arena is despised by a range of strategies”; and (3) “Transiting from darkness to light”. According to their experience, the reason for dismissal was due to changes in the political climate and the introduction of a new chief executive officer; moreover, Being fired caused a deep pain similar to that experienced during bereavement. In some socio-political contexts, the political climate can influence the role of a Chief Nurse Executive: political membership, whether implicit or explicit, is considered of great value. In other contexts, the Chief Nurse Executives’ value is based on professional competences and achieved outcomes. At times of changes in the political climate, the peculiarities of the specific socio-political context should be evaluated as to whether one should anticipate his/her resignation or not.