Coping Measures for Hospital Nurses' Turnover: A Qualitative Meta-Aggregation (2018-2023)

To identify and synthesise the qualitative evidence that is available regarding reducing the turnover of hospital nurses from their own perspectives.

A qualitative systematic review using the meta-aggregation design.

Qualitative studies either in English or in Chinese, dating from 2018 to 2023, were obtained from eight databases, including CINAHL, PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Ovid, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang Database and the China Biomedical Database.

Studies were screened using pre-determined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Quality assessment was done using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklist for Qualitative Research. The study was reported according to the Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) guidelines.

Sixteen papers were included that explored nurses' perspectives on enhancing their retention or reducing staff turnover. We developed three synthesised findings and 12 categories from 64 identified findings, including (1) individual adjustment strategy: professional pride, self-growth and psychological adjustment; (2) social support strategy: constructive workplace relationships, balancing work life and recognition of nursing and (3) organisational change strategy: embracing management and leadership, promote nursing professionalisation, workload management and support, flexible work patterns and opportunities, supporting personal career development and competitive salary.

This review provides an in-depth and meaningful understanding of nurses' own perceptions and suggestions for enhancing nursing turnover, which will call for a wide range of measures targeting the individual, social and organisational levels.

This study contributes important knowledge to help improve hospital nurse's turnover, which can provide evidence to support nurse managers, other stakeholders and policymakers in correspondingly developing effective measures to address nurse turnover.

There was no direct contribution from patient or caregiver to this study because the data of this study originated from published papers.