Exploring the intention to leave the nursing profession: a descriptive qualitative study in Italy

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• High-intensity hospital settings present demanding workloads and emotional strain for nurses and nursing assistants.
• Intention to leave is a significant predictor of turnover, especially in complex cardio-thoracic-vascular units.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the experiences, perceptions, and motivations of nurses and nursing assistants regarding their intention to leave.
• Investigate factors contributing to job dissatisfaction and turnover in high-intensity cardio-thoracic-vascular settings.

Main Methods:

• Descriptive qualitative study using four focus groups with nurses and nursing assistants.
• Data collected through audio-recorded discussions, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.
• Methodological rigor ensured via researcher triangulation and participant validation.

Main Results:

• Five themes emerged: motivation, high-intensity care, interprofessional relationships, professional role perception, and intention to leave.
• Key drivers for intention to leave included emotional exhaustion, workload imbalance, and lack of recognition.
• Protective factors identified were strong teamwork, peer support, and empathetic leadership.

Conclusions:

• Intention to leave is influenced by emotional, relational, and organizational factors.
• Interventions should focus on supportive leadership, communication, and wellbeing to enhance retention.
• Findings inform strategies to improve sustainability and quality of care in demanding clinical environments.