Currently submitted to: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Apr 17, 2026
Open Peer Review Period: Apr 21, 2026 - Jun 16, 2026
(currently open for review)
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Determinants of Post-Injury Employment Trajectories Among Nurses Aged 50 and Over: A Life‑Story Mixed‑Methods Study Protocol
ABSTRACT
Background:
Workforce aging is accelerating, particularly among women aged 50 and over. In the healthcare sector, older nurses face increased exposure to occupational injuries, including musculoskeletal disorders and burnout, which may result in work disability. Following an occupational injury, nurses must navigate complex decisions involving return to work or retirement. These decisions occur within interacting personal, organizational, healthcare, and compensation systems. The determinants of these post-injury employment trajectories remain insufficiently documented, which limits the development of targeted interventions to support reintegration in employment or retirement transitions.
Objective:
This study aims to identify the factors that influence employment trajectories of nurses aged 50 and over following an occupational injury.
Methods:
This study uses a two-stage qualitative design. Stage 1 consists of a life‑story study based on semi‑structured interviews with approximately 20 nurses aged 50 and over who have experienced an occupational injury. Interviews will explore factors related to the worker, the work environment, the healthcare system, and the compensation system. Data will be analyzed using thematic analysis. This stage will generate preliminary recommendations to support return to work or transition to retirement. Stage 2 consists of a nominal group process to validate and refine these recommendations. Four nominal groups will be formed, each including four participants representing nurses, healthcare professionals, employer representatives, and insurer representatives. Participants will assess the relevance, clarity, and completeness of the recommendations. Data will be analyzed using descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis.
Results:
Participant recruitment and data collection began in September 2025 and are expected to continue until October 2026.
Conclusions:
This study will identify key facilitators and barriers shaping post-injury employment trajectories of nurses aged 50 and over. The findings will inform actionable recommendations to support sustainable return to work or structured transition to retirement in this growing segment of the healthcare workforce.
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