Public health nurses leaving remote islands: An investigation into the turnover rate of remote island PHNs in Japan.

Abstract

This study investigated the number of public health nurses (PHNs) and the turnover rates of PHNs working in small municipal administrations on remote islands throughout Japan. A questionnaire survey was administered on 359 remote islands, each with a population of less than 5000, including islands connected to the Japanese mainland by a bridge or road. The survey questionnaire asked about the number of PHNs stationed on the remote islands, their length of service, the number of retirees, and the ages of those who had retired. Of the 353 islands which responded, 30 islands had a total of 77 PHNs. Of those 30 islands, 29 were isolated islands that were not connected to the mainland by a bridge or road. The turnover rate of PHNs on the 29 islands was 13.3%. The turnover rate of 13.3% for PHNs on remote islands (with no bridge or road) with a population of less than 5000 was higher than the 7.9% turnover rate for PHNs in municipalities of equal size. To maintain the quality of life of island residents, preventingPHNs from leaving their jobs is an important challenge.