Catastrophe and nursing turnover: nonlinear models

Creating a culture of retention is one antidote to high costs of nurse turnover. However, nurse turnover behavior has proven to be largely uncertain and unpredictable. A new approach to analyzing nurse turnover attitudes and behavior is discussed. A cusp catastrophe nonlinear model of nurse turnover is presented as having usefulness for the prediction of turnover for managerial decision making in nursing care delivery systems. Viewing nursing from the perspective of nonlinear dynamics can create new strategies for effective and efficient nursing services.