BackgroundMultiple factors can fuel nurses’ intention to leave their employing hospital or their profession. Job dissatisfaction and burnout are contributors to this decision. Sociodemographic and work context factors can also play a role in explaining nurses’ intention to leave. ObjectiveTo investigate the role of sociodemographic and work context factors, including job resources, job demands, job dissatisfaction, depersonalization, and emotional exhaustion, on nurses’ intention to leave their hospital or their profession. DesignMulticentre cross-sectional study. Setting(s)Eight European hospitals, two per each country, including Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Poland. ParticipantsFrom May 16 to September 30, 2022, we collected 1,350 complete responses from nurses working at the selected hospitals (13 % response rate). MethodsThe intention to leave was assessed through two 5-Likert scale outcomes, agreeing with the intention to leave the profession and the intention to leave the hospital. Logistic regression models were used for statistical analysis. ResultsAt the multivariable analysis, a higher intention to leave the hospital was observed for: younger age, having served on the frontline against COVID-19, lack of quipment, living in the Netherlands, emotional exhaustion, dissatisfaction with work prospects, and dissatisfaction with the use of professional abilities. There was a higher intention to leave the profession for: younger age, living in the Netherlands, having work-related health problems, depersonalization, emotional exhaustion, low possibilities of professional development, dissatisfaction with work prospects, lack of use of professional abilities, overall ob issatisfaction, and dissatisfaction with salary. Nurses living in Italy expressed the lowest intention to leave. ConclusionWhile confirming the role of job dissatisfaction and burnout, we found higher intention to leave for young nurses, nurses with work-related health problems, and caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dissatisfaction with work prospects, professional development, and salary also increased the intention to leave. We call for educators, managers, and policymakers to address these factors to retain at-risk nursing categories, implementing strategies to mitigate intentions to leave.
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