Relationship between Transition Shock, Professional Stressors, and Intent to Leave the Nursing Profession during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background and Objectives: Moving nurses to a COVID-19 department may cause the phenomenon of transition shock, which occurs when already employed nurses change jobs. A set of confusing and uncertain feelings arise due to the unfamiliar work environment, which may lead to their intention to leave the nursing profession. The aim of this study was to examine transition shock and the contribution of both the respondents' characteristics and the presence of stressors to the occurrence of transition shock in nurses assigned to work in COVID-19 departments. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study with 120 nurses employed in COVID-19 departments was conducted. Several linear regression models were used to assess the association between transition shock, personal and professional COVID-19 stressors, and the intention to leave the nursing profession. Results: Nurses who intended to leave the profession showed higher transition shock and higher personal and professional stressors (p < 0.001). Female nurses had lower transition shock (β = -0.16; p = 0.036) and higher personal COVID-19 stressors (β = 0.27; p < 0.001). University education contributes to the lowering of nurses' transition shock (β = -0.16; p = 0.038). Nurses who did not intend to leave the nursing profession had lower personal COVID-19 stressors (β = -0.15; p = 0.044). Transition shock was associated with personal COVID-19 stressors (β = 0.39; p < 0.001) and professional COVID-19 stressors (β = 0.29; p < 0.001), and vice versa. Conclusions: The phenomenon of transition shock was present after nurses transitioned to working in COVID-19 departments. Transition shock may cause more nurses to leave the profession, which may have a strong impact on the health system in many countries that are already facing a shortage of nurses. Additional education on and preparation for adapting to new working conditions with psychological support could have an influence by lowering the level of nurses' transition shock.