What relationships can be found between nurses' working life and turnover? A mixed-methods approach

Area of Science:

• Nursing Workforce Research
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Limited research exists on registered nurse (RN) turnover, particularly concerning leaving the nursing profession versus leaving a specific unit.
• Understanding the drivers of RN turnover is crucial for workforce stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify reasons why registered nurses leave their jobs.
• To explore the relationship between RNs' working conditions and turnover (unit vs. profession).

Main Methods:

• Data collected through questionnaires and interviews.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis used to identify significant factors.

Main Results:

• High workload, low salary, and securing new employment were the top reasons for RN turnover.
• Turnover showed significant associations with empowering structures (resources, informal power) and learning in thriving.

Conclusions:

• Structural empowerment, including access to resources and informal power, is vital for retaining registered nurses.
• Learning opportunities may paradoxically increase the risk of nurses leaving the profession when other factors are controlled.