Health indicators as moderators of occupational commitment and nurses' intention to leave
Kyoko Asakura1, Takashi Asakura2, Miho Satoh3
1Graduate School of Medicine, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan.
Japan Journal of Nursing Science : JJNS
|July 16, 2019
Summary
Occupational commitment protects nurses from leaving, but only if they have good health. Reducing fatigue and psychological distress is key to maintaining this protective effect for all nurses.
Area of Science:
- Nursing Workforce Research
- Occupational Health Psychology
- Human Resources Management
Background:
- High nurse turnover poses significant challenges to healthcare systems globally.
- Understanding factors influencing nurses' intention to leave is crucial for retention strategies.
- Occupational commitment is a known predictor of retention, but its interaction with health status requires investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether health indicators moderate the relationship between occupational commitment and nurses' intention to leave.
- To examine the specific roles of psychological distress and cumulative fatigue in this relationship.
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for nurse retention in Japan.
Main Methods:
- A large-scale survey of 5,505 registered nurses in Japanese hospitals.
- Utilized a self-administered questionnaire assessing intention to leave, occupational commitment (affective and continuance), psychological distress, and cumulative fatigue.
- Employed generalized estimating equations to analyze interactions between occupational commitment and health indicators on intention to leave.
Main Results:
- The interaction between continuance occupational commitment and cumulative fatigue was significantly associated with intention to leave (b = -0.0055).
- The interaction between affective occupational commitment and psychological distress was also significantly associated with intention to leave (b = 0.0079).
- These findings indicate that the protective effect of occupational commitment diminishes with poor health indicators.
Conclusions:
- Occupational commitment's ability to reduce intention to leave is strongest among nurses in good health.
- Interventions targeting cumulative fatigue and psychological distress are essential to preserve the retention benefits of occupational commitment.
- Healthcare organizations should prioritize nurse well-being to enhance commitment and reduce turnover.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Professional Values
Nurses are responsible for caring for patients during birth, death, illness, and healing. Professional values guide the decisions and actions that nurses make in their careers. If nurses know the decisions and actions to take, providing patients with exceptional care is possible.
The values that are the foundation of the nursing profession are altruism, autonomy, human dignity, and social justice.
First, altruism refers to the concern for the welfare and well-being of others without personal...
The values that are the foundation of the nursing profession are altruism, autonomy, human dignity, and social justice.
First, altruism refers to the concern for the welfare and well-being of others without personal...
01:28Current Trends in Nursing I
Current trends in nursing include:
01:30Current Trends in Nursing II
Trends in nursing are multifactorial and associated with changes in society, within the nursing profession, and in other professions. Notably, telehealth and remote nursing contribute to successful healthcare delivery for numerous patients and help reduce stress for nurses due to nursing shortages. Nurses can reach patients, monitor their conditions, and interact with them using computers, audio, visual accessories, and telephones—for example, remote patient monitoring systems. Likewise,...
01:29Nursing Code of Ethics
The Nursing Code of Ethics sets the ethical benchmark for the profession, and guides nurses in ethical analysis and decision making at the societal, organizational, and clinical levels. The code encompasses showing compassion and respect for the patient, their families, and communities in all circumstances while committing to providing patient-centered care. In addition, the code states that nurses must advocate for the patient by defending a cause or recommendation to protect their rights,...
01:22The Professional Nurse
Professional nurses are not limited to bedside care and are taking roles of greater responsibility. A nurse should have a knowledge-based practice, including personal, theoretical, procedural, cultural, and reflexive knowledge. Additionally, nurses must be competent in cognitive, technical, interpersonal, and ethical/legal skills. Some of the best attributes of successful nurses include the following:
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.
Communication skills: These are critical characteristics, especially speaking and listening.
01:09Accountability and Responsibility of a Nurse II
Professional accountability in nursing is a multifaceted concept that encompasses professional ethics, legal standards, and employment expectations. This framework ensures that nurses maintain and elevate the quality of care while upholding the values of their profession. It compels them to treat patients, families, and colleagues with respect, compassion, and integrity.
For example, a nurse demonstrating respect and compassion might listen attentively to a patient's concerns, provide comfort...
For example, a nurse demonstrating respect and compassion might listen attentively to a patient's concerns, provide comfort...