Associations Among Workplace Bullying, Workplace Social Capital, and Turnover Intention Among Iranian Emergency...

Emergency nurse turnover is troublesome and can affect the quality of patient care. Identifying factors contributing to nurse turnover is considered a key strategy to improve retention in the profession. This study aimed to determine the association among workplace bullying, workplace social capital, and turnover intention among Iranian emergency nurses.

This multicenter cross-sectional study was conducted with 241 nurses working in the emergency departments of teaching hospitals in the northwest province of Iran. Convenience sampling was used for participant recruitment. Data were collected using the demographic form, the anticipated turnover scale, the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised, and the short-form workplace social capital questionnaire. Data analysis was performed using univariate and multiple linear regression models using SPSS V. 26.

A total of 67.6% of the nurses reported turnover intention. Turnover intention was greater among male nurses (β = 0.130; P = .035), who had more work experience in the emergency department (β = 0.136; P = .044). Workplace bullying was positively associated with nurse turnover intention (β = 0.148; P = .032), whereas workplace social capital was negatively associated with turnover intention (β = -0.197; P = .019).

Minimizing workplace bullying integrated to improve workplace social capital may lead to emergency nurses' retention. Providing training programs and policies to reduce workplace bullying and increase workplace social capital is suggested.