Ethical climate and turnover intention among nurses: A scoping review

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Management
• Nursing Ethics
• Organizational Psychology

Background:

• Global nursing shortages and high turnover rates present significant challenges.
• Ethical climate significantly impacts nurse well-being and retention.
• Understanding the ethical climate-turnover intention link is crucial for healthcare stakeholders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing evidence on the association between ethical climate and nurse turnover intention.
• To identify key variables influencing this relationship.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive scoping review of studies up to February 2024.
• Searches conducted across major scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Science Direct).

Main Results:

• Sixteen studies were included, revealing a significant association between ethical climate and turnover intention.
• Organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and moral distress were key variables.
• Organizational commitment, cynicism, and trust acted as mediators.

Conclusions:

• The association is clear, but further research with qualitative and longitudinal designs is needed.
• Enhancing ethical climate through assessments and education can improve nurse retention.
• Future research should focus on theory development and intervention strategies.