An Exploration of the Pre-tenure and Tenure Process Experiences of Canadian Nursing Faculty

Abstract

Background: The number of PhD-prepared nurses seeking employment in academia in Canada is not keeping up with the rate of retirements and the demands for new hires in the same settings. The current number of vacancies is expected to grow over the coming decade as an aging professoriate prepares to leave full-time employment. Retention of newly hired faculty will become a critical issue for administrators in an increasingly competitive environment.
Purpose: The purpose of this mixed-methods study was to explore how organizational culture, mentorship, and the perceived level of psychological and structural empowerment are associated with one’s work environment among pre-tenure and newly tenured nursing faculty in Canada.
Methods: This article reports the qualitative findings from the in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted with 10 faculty volunteers after they completed an online survey.
Results: Respondents overwhelmingly expressed a desire for a collegial and supportive working environment with clearly articulated policies and a transparent process for achieving tenure in academia. A healthy work environment was clearly identified as critical to the tenure process. Mentorship was identified as critical to creating a productive research culture.