The retention of recalled United States Navy nurse reservists

The purpose of this study was to identify factors that contribute to the retention of United States Navy Nurse Corps reservists called to duty in 2003. Data were collected by questionnaires based on Price and Mueller's causal model of voluntary turnover and were analyzed via descriptive statistics, multiple regression analysis, exploratory factor analysis, and structural equation modeling. The data indicate that the model fits the data well, with job satisfaction having the strongest influence on one's intent to stay in the Reserve. The data analyses did not support the concern that a negative experience with a recall could make a reservist resign his/her commission. The results may prove useful to any nation that relies on a volunteer reserve force to augment its day-to-day nursing capabilities.