Abstract
Background: Sick leave and turnover of nurses exacerbate an already existing nursing shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and other countries. Frequency and associated factors of sick leave and intention to quit among nurses need to be examined to maintain healthcare. Methods: An online survey among nursing staff (N = 757) in German hospitals was conducted between May and July 2021. Sick leave days, intention to quit, working conditions, depression, anxiety and sleep disorder symptoms, effort-reward imbalance (ERI), COVID-19-related and sociodemographic variables were measured. Regression analyses were performed. Results: The intention to quit was present in 18.9%. One third (32.5%) reported sick leave of ≥10 and 12.3% more than 25 days in 12 months. Significant predictors for ≥10 sick leave days were infection with SARS-CoV-2, a pre-existing illness, exhaustion, trust in colleagues and fear of becoming infected. Higher ERI reward levels, perception of sufficient staff and contact with infected patients were associated with lower odds for ≥10 sick leave days. Lower reward levels, having changed work departments during the pandemic, working part-time and higher depression levels significantly predicted turnover intention. Conclusion: Alarmingly, many nurses intend to quit working in healthcare. Perceived reward seems to buffer both sick leave and turnover intention. Enhancing protection from COVID-19 and reducing workload might also prevent sick leave. Depression prevention, improved change management and support of part-time workers could contribute to reducing turnover intention among nurses.
Highlights
IntroductionMany countries in the world face a shortage of healthcare workers
The aim of the present study was to assess frequency and associated factors of sick leave days and intention to leave the job among nursing staff in Germany during the COVID-19 pandemic
As two thirds of the sample recorded less than 10 days of sick leave, and 14.6 days of sick leave were found as mean in other professions in 2020 [13], and 22.9 days for nursing staff in 2018 [44], it may be possible that the sample was relatively healthy with regard to sick leave
Summary
Many countries in the world face a shortage of healthcare workers. 1.7 million professionals work in the field of nursing and caregiving There are estimations that this is at least 35,000 persons too low to provide nursing care for all in need [2] and, in 2035, there will be an estimated lack of 500,000 professionals in the nursing field in Germany [3]. Working in the field of nursing is generally demanding on a physical (e.g., [4,5]). Sick leave and turnover of nurses exacerbate an already existing nursing shortage during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany and other countries. Frequency and associated factors of sick leave and intention to quit among nurses need to be examined to maintain healthcare
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