Factors Influencing Nurses Turnover in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

The turnover of nurses has been an ordeal for healthcare institutions not only locally but also globally. It ranges from changing unit or workplace to changing or leaving the nursing profession. High turnover rates affect care provision and organizational cost. Therefore, this review aims to identify the factors that influence nurse turnover in Saudi Arabia. An in‐depth review of quantitative, qualitative, and mixed‐method studies that includes all studies on nurses who intend to leave the job or profession (resigned or terminated) in any institution within Saudi Arabia was conducted. The grey literature and studies conducted outside of Saudi Arabia were excluded. PubMed, ScienceDirect, EBSCO Medline, ProQuest, and Web of Science were searched for relevant literature from inception to publication. MMAT (Mixed‐Methods Appraisal Tool) is used to assess the risk of bias. A narrative synthesis of the findings is conducted and presented in a table. A total of 1286 articles were retrieved from the initial search and managed using Rayyan software. Out of 1102 articles screened, 44 articles were reviewed for eligibility yielding to 21 articles included in this study. Preliminary screening is performed by two authors by independently scrutinizing the title and abstracts followed by full‐text screening. The data are carefully extracted by the author and validated by a second reviewer. The factors identified to influence nurse turnover in Saudi Arabia are classified into themes, namely, individual‐related factors (demographic characteristics and psychological and personal aspects), work environment, and organizational factors. More studies are needed in all regions using more robust designs. The review protocol is registered in Prospero with ID no. CRD42023433406.