Affiliations: [a] Faculty of Nursing and Paramedical, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran | [b] Nursing Department, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares UniversityS, Tehran, Iran | [c] Psychiatric Rehabilitation Nursing and Geropsychiatric Nursing, Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences University, Tehran, Iran
Correspondence:
[*]
Corresponding author: Monir Nobahar, Assistant professor, Faculty of Nursing and Paramedical, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan 3513138111, Iran. Tel.: +98 2313354170; Fax: +98 2313354161; E-mail:nobahar43@semums.ac.ir
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: According to recent studies, the level of international
interest in bridge employment, as return to work after retirement, has been
growing. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to explore the experiences of retired
nurses in Iran with regard to making a decision about whether or not to seek
bridge employment. METHODS: A qualitative study using a content analysis approach was
conducted in an urban area of Iran. Semi-structured interviews were held
with 20 Iranian male and female retired nurses chosen using purposive
sampling. RESULTS: During the data analysis, two main themes were identified
as the participants' thoughts supporting the decision of seeking bridge
employment. The first theme was entitled motivational factors with categories of ``serving the
society,'' ``maintaining and promoting health,'' ``tendency toward flexible
work,'' and ``maintaining the role and activity.'' The second theme was
entitled forcing factors with categories of ``ardent desire to work (pluralistic
ignorance)'' and ``financial need.'' CONCLUSIONS: While some Iranian retired nurses were not motivated
to seek work for health reasons, most preferred to return to work after
retirement. They were motivated to seek bridge employment out of a desire to
serve the society, to promote their own physical and mental health, to
continue to use their expertise and maintain the worker role, and because of
financial needs and perceived societal expectations. Nurses seeking
employment later in life tended to look for job flexibility and less
stressful work. Therefore, the management of bridge employment by healthcare
system authorities can be useful in making use of the invaluable experiences
of retired nurses.
Keywords: Work, bridge employment, bridge jobs, retirement, qualitative research
