Factors Influencing Retention Intention of Nurses at Long-Term Care Hospitals in Korea.

Abstract

The current study aimed to assess relationships among role conflict, nursing professionalism, nursing work environment, and retention intention of nurses at long-term care (LTC) hospitals. Participants comprised 183 nurses at nine LTC hospitals located in Busan, Korea. Data were collected using a structured self-report questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, t test, one-way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation coefficient, and multiple linear regression. Retention intention had a signifi-cant positive correlation with nursing professionalism (r = 0.39, p < 0.001) and nursing work environment (r = 0.51, p < 0.001). Nursing work environment had a significant negative correlation with role conflict (r = -0.30, p < 0.001) and a significant positive correlation with nursing professionalism (r = 0.48, p < 0.001). In the final multiple regression analysis, factors influencing retention intention of participants included number of beds (β = -0.15 p < 0.026), nursing professionalism (β = 0.19, p = 0.007), and nursing work environment (β = 0.36, p < 0.001). The explanatory power of number of beds, nursing professionalism, and nursing work environment on retention intention was 34% (F = 16.66, p < 0.001). Improving nursing professionalism and nursing work environment of nurses at LTC hospitals will ultimately enhance their retention intention and positively impact the quality of gerontological nursing care. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 47(10), 44-53.].