Knowledge Management and Employee Retention Management in End-of-life Children’s Care

Abstract

Purpose: This conceptual paper aims to present the results of a literature analysis focused on knowledge management and job crafting application, identifying factors influencing employee retention and its impact on end-of-life children’s care quality. Findings: In light of World Health Organization predictions regarding a significant shortage of healthcare workers by 2030, reaching approximately 10 - 11 million globally, employee retention becomes a critical issue affecting hospice organizations as well. Withdrawal behaviors, manifested through reduced engagement, emotional distancing, or absenteeism, may precede turnover and disrupt both team functioning and the continuity of care. In highly specialized settings such as children’s hospices, these challenges are particularly acute due to the emotionally demanding nature of pediatric end-of-life care and from the standpoint of knowledge management. Tacit, experience-based, and relational knowledge, which is constantly generated, is crucial to hospice care. In order to sustain children’s hospice quality and ensure the continuity of tacit knowledge, it is important to investigate knowledge management and job crafting strategies that may enhance employee well-being and increase employee retention. Design/methodology/approach: The study is based on a literature analysis examining existing research on employee retention, withdrawal behaviors, knowledge management, and their implications for pediatric end-of-life care, with a focus on children’s hospice. Originality/value: The paper integrates insights on employee retention, knowledge sharing, and job crafting attitudes within the specific context of children’s hospices, emphasizing the importance of tacit knowledge in sustaining pediatric end-of-life care quality. Limitations: At this stage of development, the proposed study is of a theoretical character. This limitation will be overcome in future research activities that involve empirical studies of employees in end-of-life children’s care.