Work-home conflict in the European nursing profession

This study investigated predictors of the work-home conflict among registered nurses (n = 27,603) in eight European countries. Two scales were used to assess work-family conflict (WFC) and family-work conflict (FWC). Based on a distinction of time- and strain-based and individual factors for WFC, bivariate correlations and multiple linear regression analysis were computed. The relationship between WFC and intention to leave the nursing profession was also analyzed. Quantitative demands indicating intensity of work, regularity of working time, and being pressured to work overtime were the dominating predictors for WFC, explaining 13-23% of the observed variance. The association between WFC and intention to leave the nursing profession was pronounced in all countries except one. Most European countries lack qualified nurses. Attempts to retain nurses in their profession should take into consideration the WFC, the regularity of working time in particular, and overtime issues.