Human Resource Strategies for Retaining Clinical Health Care Professionals

Human resource (HR) professionals who lack effective clinical employee retention strategies negatively affect patient care, employee well-being, and organizational culture. Grounded in the human capital theory, the purpose of this qualitative single case study was to explore effective strategies HR professionals use to retain clinical human capital. The study participants were five health care, HR professionals from one health care organization in the Northeast United States who successfully implemented strategies to improve clinical human capital. Data were collected from organizational documents and conducting semistructured interviews. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis, and four themes emerged: work-life balance, compensation, effective communication, and training and development. Key recommendations are for HR professionals to provide employee assistance programs, including resources for children, mental health counseling, health coaching, tobacco-free programs, and education assistance. The implications for positive social change include the potential to retain clinical human capital in health care organizations, which could improve customer service, health care in the surrounding communities, and quality service to patients