Investigating the Relationship Between Moral Resilience and Turnover Intention in Nurses

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between moral resilience and turnover intention among nurses.

This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was conducted from December 2024 to September 2025 among nurses working in educational and treatment hospitals affiliated with Ardabil University of Medical Sciences. A total of 330 nurses were selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected using a demographic characteristics questionnaire, the 16-item Rushton Moral Resilience Scale, and the 15-item Kim et al. Turnover Intention Questionnaire. Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression analysis were used to examine the relationships between variables and identify predictors of turnover intention. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 14.

The mean age of the nurses was 32.01 ± 4.81 years, and their mean work experience was 6.45 ± 4.46 years. Most participants were married (60.6%) and held a bachelor's degree (90.0%). The mean moral resilience score was 40.78 ± 1.29, indicating a moderate level, while the mean turnover intention score was 16.65 ± 2.77, indicating a high level. A significant negative correlation was found between moral resilience and turnover intention (r = -0.72, P < 0.001). Regression analysis showed that age (B = -0.238, P = 0.047), workplace department (B = 0.145, P = 0.042), job satisfaction (B = -1.139, P < 0.001), average number of patients per shift (B = -0.422, P = 0.042), errors leading to patient death in the past year (B = 1.672, P = 0.010), and moral resilience (B = -1.015, P < 0.001) were significant predictors of reduced turnover intention.

Enhancing moral resilience can effectively reduce turnover intention. These findings suggest that strengthening moral resilience may be relevant to reducing nurses' turnover intention. Further longitudinal and intervention studies are needed to determine whether interventions aimed at enhancing moral resilience can reduce turnover intention.