This paper provides insights into the role of ongoing training and education on nurses' career satisfaction across different career stages and their ability to provide quality patient care. Eighteen focus groups were conducted over the course of five months in 2015 (January to May) in eight Canadian provinces. There were a total of 185 focus group participants. Each focus group lasted approximately 1.5 h and included 8-15 participants who self-selected in one of three distinct career stages (students, early-career, mid-to late-career). A thematic analysis of the data revealed that ongoing professional development is an expressed need and expectation for nurses across the various career stages. Student and early-career nurses expected sufficient training and education to facilitate workplace transitions, as well as continuing education opportunities throughout their careers for career laddering. For mid-to late-career nurses, the importance of lifelong learning was understood within the context of maintaining competency, providing quality patient care and enhancing future career opportunities. Training and education were directly linked to nurses' career satisfaction. Healthy work environments were identified by nurses as those that invested in continuing professional development opportunities to ensure continuous growth in their practice and provide optimal quality patient care. Training and education emerged as a cross-cutting theme across all career stages and held implications for patient care, as well as retention and recruitment.

The editorial will introduce a special section on nurses’ mental health and well-being that will showcase results from a groundbreaking pan-Canadian study of nurses’ occupational stress. The article series highlights research efforts toward better supporting nurses’ mental health. In this editorial, we discuss the importance of this research in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. We review the current stressors faced by nurses and anticipate how nurses’ mental health and well-being will be impacted by COVID-19.

Objective This article provides insights into the role of management relations on nurses’ career satisfaction across different career stages. Background Managers and positive relations with staff are critical to improving job satisfaction, career development, and retention for new graduates to mid- to late-career nurses. Methods Using a descriptive qualitative approach, we conducted a thematic analysis of 18 focus groups held in 8 Canadian provinces with 185 student, early-career, and mid- to late-career nurse participants. Results Student participants expressed the need for a supportive environment to enable successful transition to practice. Early-career nurses expected effective leadership at the unit level, effective communication, and positive working relationships to enable best care outcomes. Mid- to late-career nurses were most dissatisfied with management interactions and relationships. Conclusions Management relations are important across all career stages, affecting patient care and job satisfaction. Findings provide insight into how nurse-manager relations can be enhanced from new graduate support to guidance in career development and ongoing recognition and respect for nurses throughout their careers.