Media Portrayals of Nurse Retention: A Decade of News With Topic Modeling and Network Analysis

Abstract

Aim: This study aims to explore how nurse retention has been portrayed in South Korean news media, identifying key themes, discourse shifts, and the relations among them in shaping public perceptions and policy discussions. Background: Nurse retention is essential for healthcare system stability and quality improvement. Media coverage significantly influences public perception and policy formation through issue selection and framing. However, there is a lack of systematic analysis of nurse retention portrayal in the media. Methods: An exploratory study using text mining, topic modeling, and network analysis examined 447 news articles published between January 2015 and September 2024 and retrieved from BigKinds, a South Korean news big data platform. Results: Four themes emerged: (1) healthcare system and policy challenges, (2) gendered power dynamics between nurses and physicians, (3) work environment and employment conditions, and (4) hierarchical strain and adverse workplace culture among nurses. Network analysis indicated increased complexity and interconnectedness over time, with Period 1 (2015-2019) focusing on workplace issues and Period 2 (2020-2024) emphasizing policy debates. Discussion: The discourse shift toward policy emphasis integrated nurse retention into system-level discussions, potentially overshadowing the specific organizational and cultural factors that directly influence nurses' decisions to stay. Conclusions: Media discourse on nurse retention shifted significantly, integrating retention issues into the broader healthcare system and policy debates. While raising public awareness, this approach risks overlooking the distinct concerns of the nursing workforce.