RNs and LPNs: emotional exhaustion and intention to leave

Understanding Nurse Retention at a Mental Health and Addictions Facility During a Dual Pandemic

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic exposed nurses to new and more severe workplace stressors; exposure to these workplace stressors has exacerbated nurse turnover. Nurses working in mental health and substance use (MHSU) have also experienced the unique stressor of the overdose crisis in British Columbia (BC). MHSU nurses have been at the forefront of working to manage these dual emergencies. There is limited evidence related to the compounding effect of COVID-19 and the overdose crisis on nursing turnover. Understanding the unique conditions that MHSU nurses are currently experiencing and what factors influence a nurse's intention to stay in or leave a healthcare facility is essential in developing strategies to minimize turnover and maximize retention.

PURPOSE

To explore the factors that affect nurse turnover while working through the dual emergencies within a MHSU facility in BC, Canada.

METHODS

A qualitative descriptive approach with an inductive, descriptive thematic analysis guided this quality improvement project.

RESULTS

Findings were grouped into two main themes: reasons for leaving and reasons for staying. Reasons for leaving included workplace safety, seeking new opportunities, lack of support, and being short-staffed. Reasons to stay encompassed connections with clients, leaders and colleagues, support from colleagues and leaders, and feeling valued, safe, and heard.

CONCLUSIONS

Perceived personal safety and protection from workplace violence were found to increase the likelihood of intent to leave and turnover among nurses. Further, psychosocial safety and connection among nurses and health leaders were found to decrease the likelihood of turnover.

SHOULD I STAY OR SHOULD I GO-A rapid qualitative study of principal deteriorating factors experienced by nurses relating to their intentions to leave their current position in a medical hospital department

BACKGROUND

High nurse turnover in hospitals is a worldwide problem with dire consequences for patient care such as increased mortality and a decrease in patient safety. A specific effort to retain nurses is urgently needed due to the many vacant nursing positions, especially across the Medical hospital departments.

AIM

To identify the principal deteriorating factors experienced by nurses relating to their intentions to leave the medical department at a university hospital.

METHODS

A rapid qualitative research methodology was used. Participants comprised 22 registered nurses employed in five university hospital medical department units. The Rigorous and Accelerated Data Reduction (RADaR) technique was therefore used for data collection through qualitative semi-structured interviews and analysis. COREQ was used for reporting the study.

RESULTS

The RADaR analysis detected a downward spiral of five principal deteriorating factors influencing nurses' intentions to leave their position in the medical department. The factors were resignations from several nursing colleagues combined with too few and inexperienced nurses present during shifts, additional tasks assigned, a management refraining from improving the problematic issues, leading to decisive consequences for patient care and a declining feeling of professional care.

CONCLUSIONS

The lack of nurses in the department caused missed nursing care, which affected the nurses' job satisfaction and intentions to leave their positions. Future research initiatives must focus on evaluating successful interventions to maintain the nurses in the positions. Further knowledge, is also needed, to investigate how we can change the downward spiral to a story of retention success.

Bracing for the next wave: A critical incident study of frontline decision-making, adaptation and learning in ambulance care during COVID-19

AIM

To explore frontline decision-making, adaptation, and learning in ambulance care during the evolving COVID-19 pandemic.

DESIGN

Descriptive and interpretative qualitative study.

METHODS

Twenty-eight registered nurses from the Swedish ambulance services described 56 critical incidents during the COVID-19 pandemic through free-text questionnaires. The material was analysed using the Critical Incident Technique and Interpretive Description through the lens of potential for resilient performance.

RESULTS

The findings were synthesized into four themes: 'Navigating uncharted waters under never-ending pressure', 'Balancing on the brink of an abyss', 'Sacrificing the few to save the many' and 'Bracing for the next wave'. Frontline decision-making during a pandemic contribute to ethical dilemmas while necessitating difficult prioritizations to adapt and respond to limited resources. Learning was manifested through effective information sharing and the identification of successful adaptations as compared to maladaptations.

CONCLUSIONS

During pandemics or under other extreme conditions, decisions must be made promptly, even amidst emerging chaos, potentially necessitating the use of untested methods and ad-hoc solutions due to initial lack of knowledge and guidelines. Within ambulance care, dynamic leadership becomes imperative, combining autonomous frontline decision-making with support from management. Strengthening ethical competence and fostering ethical discourse may enhance confidence in decision-making, particularly under ethically challenging circumstances.

IMPACT

Performance under extreme conditions can elevate the risk of suboptimal decision-making and adverse outcomes, with older adults being especially vulnerable. Thus, requiring targeted decision support and interventions. Enhancing patient safety in ambulance care during such conditions demands active participation and governance from management, along with decision support and guidelines. Vertical communication and collaboration between management and frontline professionals are essential to ensure that critical information, guidelines, and resources are effectively disseminated and implemented. Further research is needed into management and leadership in ambulance care, alongside the ethical challenges in frontline decision-making under extreme conditions.

REPORTING METHOD

Findings are reported per consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research (COREQ).

PATIENT OR PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION

No Patient or Public Contribution.

Nurses quality of life, sleep disturbance, and intention to leave critical care units: A cross-sectional moderated mediation analysis

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to explore the complex relationships between personal and demographic factors, intermediary factors such as quality of life (depression, anxiety, stress, burnout), and the mediating impact of sleep disturbance on nurses' intention to leave critical care units.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional quantitative survey.

SETTING

Data were collected from registered nurses at a major university hospital in southern Italy. Seven inpatient critical care units were sampled.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Intention to leave critical care units.

RESULTS

We included 160 participants recruited over five weeks in May and June 2023. The data showed that most were female, married, and possessed a bachelor's degree in nursing. The mean quality of life score was moderate, while stress, anxiety, and burnout were mild. A significant percentage of nurses reported poor sleep quality. Logistic regression indicates that service length did not significantly impact the intention to leave. The structural equation model showed that stress positively correlated with emotional exhaustion, whereas job quality was negatively associated with emotional exhaustion and the intention to leave. Sleep disturbance did not explain the relationship between stress and emotional fatigue; however, the results revealed that male gender moderated sleep mediation.

CONCLUSIONS

This study investigated factors influencing intention to leave among critical care unit nurses. The results suggest that the role of sleep disturbance should always be considered when assessing the issue. In this chain of causes, sleep disturbance explains the relationship between stress and emotional exhaustion. Furthermore, the strength of this mediation was influenced by gender, particularly by the male gender.

IMPLICATIONS FOR CLINICAL PRACTICE

Stress and emotional exhaustion significantly impact nurses' working quality of life, particularly when sleep quality is taken into account. This leads to a higher intention to leave critical care units. To reduce this tendency, healthcare managers could implement specific evidence-based interventions to promote a good climate of work, which would positively affect stress, emotional exhaustion and sleep disturbance. The likelihood of intention to leave decreased with achieving personal self-fulfilment among nurses.

Configurational paths to turnover intention among primary public health workers in Liaoning Province, China: a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis

BACKGROUND

A stable public health workforce plays an indispensable role in the realization of the goal of health for all. However, there is an exodus of public health workers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Given the limited evidence on the mechanisms shaping turnover intention (TI) among public health workers, the study aims to investigate the triggering mechanisms of high and low turnover intention by combining job demands, job resources, and personal resources through a set theory perspective based on the Job-Demand-Resources (JD-R) model.

METHODS

The cross-sectional study was conducted from September 7 to 18, 2020 at district (county) level CDC in Liaoning Province, China. A total of 584 public health professionals were included. Overcommitment, effort, social respect, occupational identity, job rewards, self-efficacy, and psychological resilience were included in the study as configuration factors. The data were gathered through an online questionnaire and were analyzed using multiple regression and fuzzy-set Qualitative Comparative Analysis (fsQCA).

RESULTS

Social respect (B = -0.682, P < 0.001), occupational identity (B = -0.168, P < 0.001), and effort (B = 0.114, P < 0.001) were associated with turnover intention. Five configurations for high turnover intention and five for low turnover intention were obtained through the fsQCA, with occupational identity and effort playing an essential role in all pathways. Moreover, the configurations for low turnover intention are not the antithesis of the configurations for high turnover intention.

CONCLUSION

Managers should synthesize the combined effects of factors when implementing interventions and formulating policies. Given the vital role of occupational identity and effort, mechanisms for the rational distribution of work to avoid excessive efforts and measures to promote occupational identity should be implemented to reduce the turnover intentions of primary public health workers and encourage their intention to stay.

The relationship between workplace violence, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction and turnover intention among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic

Objectives

Workplace violence is a major issue in society, business and healthcare settings. It adversely affects both employee safety and their ability to provide healthcare services.

Aim

This study examined the association between workplace violence, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction and turnover intention among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We collected data from 513 nurses. We conducted 'Process Macro' analysis. Firstly, we included three mediators in the model: job satisfaction, workplace violence and emotional exhaustion. Secondly, we used work hours and anxiety as moderators of the relationship between workplace violence and turnover intention.

Results

The findings revealed statistical significance that job satisfaction and workplace violence mediated the relationship between emotional exhaustion and nurse turnover intentions. Work hours and anxiety also moderated the relationship between workplace violence and nurses' turnover intention.

Conclusion

Respondents indicated that they were most affected by verbal violence during this time. Workplace violence is a negative factor that affects nurses' work, affecting them physically and psychologically. This occupational risk should be considered when evaluating nurses exposed to violence, as it affects job satisfaction and turnover intentions. The main theoretical contribution of this research is the identification of the association between workplace violence, emotional exhaustion, job satisfaction and turnover intention among nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is clear that the research findings will be useful for healthcare professionals. The findings may have practical implications for healthcare administrators and their staff.

Experience and Resilience of Japanese Public Health Nurses during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Their Impact on Burnout

Japanese public health nurses (PHNs) at public health centers (PHCs) have played critical roles in infection prevention and control during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study aimed to examine the actual pandemic-related experiences of PHNs and the relation between their experiences, individual resilience, two components of organizational resilience (system and human resilience), and burnout. An analysis of the responses of 351 PHNs revealed that mid-level PHNs scored higher in experience and lower in organizational resilience compared with those in other positions. More than 80% of respondents experienced inappropriate staff allocation. Multiple regression revealed that burnout was positively associated with the components of the experience of PHNs and negatively with individual and human resilience. In hierarchical multiple regression with depersonalization as the dependent variable, the sign of system resilience reversed from negative to positive when human resilience was added. The results highlight the need to prepare for future health crises including establishing a system with enough personnel, promoting human resilience such as collaboration among staff members, and burnout prevention measures, especially among mid-level PHNs. The study also described alternative approaches to comprehend system resilience-namely, a suppression variable of human resilience, promotion of depersonalization, and multicollinearity-and the need for further research on organizational resilience.

The Effect of Occupational Moral Injury on Career Abandonment Intention Among Physicians in the Context of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Background

Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, physicians have been the unsung heroes of the pandemic. However, many are about to give up the battlefield. This study investigated the effect of occupational moral injury on physicians' career abandonment intention, taking into account the possible mediating role of emotional exhaustion.

Methods

Cross-sectional data collected from 201 physicians were analyzed using the partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SmartPLS to determine the relationship among physicians' moral injuries, emotional exhaustion, and career abandonment intention.

Results

The results indicated that occupational moral injury was positively related to emotional exhaustion and career abandonment intention. In addition, emotional exhaustion was found to play a mediating role in the relationship.

Conclusion

To reduce physicians' intention to leave their career, physicians should be prepared for moral injury and psychological issues by offering psychological support and meeting their needs early at both the individual and organizational levels during and after the pandemic.

The Race to Retain Healthcare Workers: A Systematic Review on Factors that Impact Retention of Nurses and Physicians in Hospitals

The shortage of healthcare workers is a growing problem across the globe. Nurses and physicians, in particular, are vulnerable as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Understanding why they might leave is imperative for improving retention. This systematic review explores both the prevalence of nurses and physicians who are intent on leaving their position at hospitals in European countries and the main determinants influencing job retention among nurses and physicians of their respective position in a hospital setting in both European and non-European countries. A comprehensive search was fulfilled within 3 electronic databases on June 3rd 2021. In total 345 articles met the inclusion criteria. The determinants were categorized into 6 themes: personal characteristics, job demands, employment services, working conditions, work relationships, and organizational culture. The main determinants for job retention were job satisfaction, career development and work-life balance. European and non-European countries showed similarities and differences in determinants influencing retention. Identifying these factors supports the development of multifactorial interventions, which can aid the formulation of medical strategies and help to maximize retention.

The personality of newly graduated and employed nurses: Temperament and character profiles of Swedish nurses

Background

One of the challenges of the 21st century is the high turnover rate in the nursing profession due to burnout and mental illness. From a biopsychosocial perspective, an individual's personality is an important vulnerability-resilience factor that comprises four temperament traits (i.e., a person's emotional reactions) and three character traits (i.e., self-regulation systems). Indeed, different personality profiles are associated to different coping strategies and health outcomes.

Objective

We investigated and mapped the temperament and character of Swedish newly graduated and employed nurses' in relation to the Swedish general population and an age-matched sub-sample.

Design

In this cross-sectional study, nurses self-reported their personality (Temperament and Character Inventory) at the beginning of their employment.

Setting

The data collection was conducted at a hospital in the South of Sweden.

Participants

A total of 118 newly graduated and employed nurses (Mage = 25.95±5.58) and 1,564 individuals from the Swedish general population participated in the study.

Methods

We calculated T-scores and percentiles for all seven personality dimensions using the Swedish norms (N = 1,564). The profiles were calculated by combining high/low percentiles scores in three temperament dimensions (Novelty Seeking: N/n, Harm Avoidance: H/h, and Reward Dependence: R/r) and in the three character dimensions (Self-Directedness: S/s, Cooperativeness: C/c and Self-Transcendence: T/t).

Results

Regarding T-scores, the nurses reported moderately lower Novelty Seeking (> 0.5 SD), slightly higher Harm-Avoidance (about 0.5 SD), moderately higher Persistence (> 0.5 SD) and Reward Dependence (> 0.5 SD), and extremely lower Self-Directedness (> 1 SD). The prevalence of the most common temperament profiles among the nurses (Swedish general population in brackets) were: 39.80% [10.90%] Cautious (nHR), 21.20% [10.90] Reliable (nhR), and 15.30% [16.50%] Methodical (nHr). The prevalence of the most common character profiles among the nurses were: 31.40% [4.90%] Dependent (sCt), 25.40% [14.40%] Apathetic (sct), and 19.50% [8.80%] Moody (sCT).

Conclusions

The analyses of the personality profiles showed that Low Novelty Seeking (79%), high Harm Avoidance (65%) high Reward Dependence (80%), low Self-Directedness (95%), and low Self-Transcendence (60%) were more prevalent among the newly graduated and employed nurses. This may partially explain newly graduated nurses' difficulties at work and high turnover rate. After all, a well-developed character is of special importance when working with patients with serious and terminal illness or under large global crises, such as the current pandemic. Hence, both education at universities and development at work need to be person-centered to reduce stress levels and promote positive self-regulation strategies.

A Case Study of Critical Reasons Behind Hospital Nurses Turnover Due to Challenges Across System Levels

Purpose

The aim of this study was to analyze how critical factors at different levels in a health-care system interact and impact nurses’ intention to leave and decision to quit their job at a hospital unit.

Methods

A case study of assistant and registered nurses’ intentions to leave as well as staff turnover at a smaller Swedish public hospital was performed. Employee surveys and interviews with assistant and registered nurses who had quit their job at four units in the hospital during the period 2012–2019 were performed. Critical factors regarding nurses’ intention to leave and staff turnover are analyzed by combining narrative methods with a critical incidence technique.

Results

Three main themes emerge from the analysis of factors contributing to the decision to quit, namely lack or loss of buffering factors, not owning your spare time and not feeling valued by and listened to by upper management.

Conclusion

Decision-makers, including hospital management, need to consider how supportive factors in nurses’ closest work environment that promote staff retention may be impacted by decisions at higher levels, such as health-care reorganizations and stricter governance. In this context, upper management adopting a servant leadership approach might contribute to employees to a greater extent feeling valued and being listened to. Finally, the results indicate that individual nurses’ recovery, ability to work and ability to coordinate their personal life with their work life need to be supported by policies and decisions at higher levels in order to retain nurses in intensive and emergency health-care settings.

Multi-level analysis of individual and work environment factors associated with nurses' perceived emotional exhaustion

BACKGROUND

Several factors at the individual- and work environment-level were suggested to correlate with emotional exhaustion development in nurses.

AIM

To explore nurses' perceived emotional exhaustion and associated factors by employing hierarchical modelling techniques.

METHODS

1539 nurses completed the cross-sectional survey. Generalized Linear Mixed Model was performed to identify predictors of emotional exhaustion.

RESULTS

At the individual level, female gender, high workload and emotional job demands increased the risk of emotional exhaustion; instead, higher education, satisfaction with the role of follower, perceiving nursing profession as meaningful, feeling independent at work, and group closeness were protective factors. At the work environment level, hospital ward type did not affect emotional exhaustion.

CONCLUSIONS

Emotional exhaustion is largely influenced by ward culture and organizational policies, and to a lower extent by socio-demographic variables. Moreover, it emerges as an intrinsic risk of the nursing profession rather than being associated with the clinical area profile.

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Transition to Practice in the Long-Term Care Setting: An Ethnography

Advanced practice registered nurses are successful in improving quality outcomes and filling provider care gaps in long-term care. However, little is known about the nurse’s transition to practice in this setting. A 12-month ethnography was conducted via participant-observation with nine advanced practice registered nurses in five long-term care facilities to understand practice environment influence on the nurses’ transition and on the reciprocal influence of the nurse on the practice environment. Transition was fraught with uncertainty as documented by five themes: where’s my authority, institutional acceptance, personal role fulfillment, provider relationships, and individual versus organizational care. These findings suggest that transition in this setting is complex, characterized by insecurity whether the individual is new to advanced practice or experienced. Transition in long-term care could be strengthened by formal programs that include clinical practice, reconceived mentorship for advanced practice registered nurses, and education designed to improve comfort and expertise with indirect care.

Characterization of Nonphysician Health Care Workers' Burnout and Subsequent Changes in Work Effort

IMPORTANCE

Burnout is a pervasive, unrelenting problem among health care workers (HCWs), with detrimental impact to patients. Data on the impact of burnout on workforce staffing are limited and could help build a financial case for action to address system-level contributors to burnout.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association of burnout and professional satisfaction with changes in work effort over 24 months in a large cohort of nonphysician HCWs.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This longitudinal cohort study was conducted in Rochester, Minnesota; Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona; Jacksonville, Florida; and community-based hospitals and health care facilities in the Midwest among nonphysician HCWs who responded to 2 surveys from 2015 to 2017. Analysis was completed November 25, 2020.

EXPOSURES

Burnout, as measured by 2 items from the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and professional satisfaction.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The main outcome was work effort, as measured in full-time equivalent (FTE) units, recorded in payroll records.

RESULTS

Data from 26 280 responders (7293 individuals aged 45-54 years [27.8%]; 20 263 [77.1%] women) were analyzed. A total of 8115 individuals (30.9%) had worked for the organization more than 15 years, and 6595 individuals (25.1%) were nurses. After controlling for sex, age, duration of employment, job category, baseline FTE, and baseline burnout, overall burnout (odds ratio [OR], 1.53; 95% CI, 1.38-1.70; P < .001), high emotional exhaustion at baseline (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.39-1.71; P < .001), and high depersonalization at baseline (OR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.21-1.62; P < .001) were associated with an HCW reducing their FTE over the following 24 months. Conversely, satisfaction with the organization at baseline was associated with lower likelihood of reduced FTE (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.65-0.83; P < .001). Findings were similar when emotional exhaustion (OR per 1-point increase, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.10-1.16; P < .001), depersonalization (OR per 1-point increase, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.06-1.14; P < .001) and satisfaction with the organization (OR per 1-point increase, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.79-0.88; P < .001) were modeled as continuous measures. Nurses represented the largest group (1026 of 1997 nurses [51.4%]) reducing their FTE over the 24 months.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This cohort study found that burnout and professional satisfaction of HCWs were associated with subsequent changes in work effort over the following 24 months. These findings highlight the importance of addressing factors contributing to high stress among all HCWs as a workforce retention and cost reduction strategy.

How to Mitigate the Negative Effect of Emotional Exhaustion among Healthcare Workers: The Role of Safety Climate and Compensation

This study examines the relationship between emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. We further propose a safety climate and compensation as contextual variables that weaken the effect of emotional exhaustion. Survey data collected from 694 employees of a public hospital provided support for the hypothesized research model. The hierarchical multiple regression results reveal that high emotional exhaustion is negatively related to job satisfaction. In addition, the results suggest that compensation and a safety climate are moderating variables that mitigate the negative effects of emotional exhaustion. The theoretical implications and future directions are discussed.

Competitive employer positioning through career path analysis: the case of the Swiss nursing sector

BACKGROUND

The global shortage of nurses has caused strategic employer positioning and strengthened employer branding to become progressively relevant addressing the increased competition in the recruitment of nurses. This study provides competition-oriented strengths-and-weaknesses profiles for nurse attraction and attrition for the major types of healthcare institutions to advise on competitive employer positioning.

METHODS

We applied bivariate weighted logistic regressions with cluster-adjusted standard errors to evaluate 4844 employer changes of 3011 nurses participating in the nurses at work study, whereby the reasons to quit (RQs) acted as both predictors of the former and the follow-up type of employer. For each employer type, we introduce a coordination system allocating each workplace criterion along its push and implicit pull characteristics, given through the specific odds ratios, to derive different strategic implications for an organisation's competitive nurse recruitment.

RESULTS

Depending on the employer type, workplace criteria were variously acting as push or pull factors in nurses' career decisions.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses' career choices are affected by experienced and presumed workplace characteristics associated with specific employer types. Becoming aware of these associations and experiences, employers should leverage workplace criteria with relatively strong pull or/and weak push characteristics by intensified communication measurements and criteria with relatively weak pull or/and strong push characteristics should be enhanced to a competitive level.

Job demands and functional resources moderating assistant and Registered Nurses' intention to leave

AIMS

To investigate how job demands and resources interact with each other to predict intention to leave among assistant nurses and Registered Nurses.

DESIGN

Longitudinal study.

METHODS

Questionnaire data were collected yearly during three years (October 2012-December 2014) from Registered Nurses (RN) and assistant nurses (N = 840) employed in Swedish hospitals. Associations and interaction effects of demands and resources were assessed with correlation analyses and regression models.

RESULTS

Job demands predicted assistant nurses' intentions to leave, while resources predicted RNs' intention to leave. For RNs, several resources were functional in moderating the associations between demands and intention to leave: social support, vertical trust, and humanity moderated work pace and workflow moderated emotional demands. For assistant nurses, organizational clarity and interprofessional collaboration moderated emotional demands. None of the resources had a moderating effect on the associations between quantitative demands or illegitimate tasks and intention to leave.

Factors influencing acceptance or decline of a hospital-sponsored scholarship by nursing students in Taiwan: a qualitative descriptive study

Background

Maintaining sufficient nursing personnel is critical for healthcare systems worldwide. Improving retention of nurses is one means of addressing this shortfall. To foster retention, some hospitals in Taiwan provide nursing scholarships contingent on recipients signing a 3-year employment contract. However, it is unclear what factors influence students’ decisions to accept or reject a scholarship.

Methods

The purpose of this exploratory qualitative descriptive study was to obtain an understanding of the subjective experiences of fourth-year nursing school students (N = 87) who accepted (n = 43) or declined (n = 44) a hospital-sponsored nursing school scholarship. Students were selected by purposive sampling from the department of nursing of a private university in northern Taiwan. Data were collected between 2013 and 2014 using face-to-face-in-depth interviews.

Results

The mean age of participants was 22.7 years; most (94%) were female (n = 82). Analysis of the interview data showed the choice to accept or decline the scholarship and making career decisions occurred in three stages for both groups: the considering their options, making the decision, and assessment of their decision.

Conclusions

Although the variables at each of these stages differed between groups, both sponsored and non-sponsored students felt a responsibility to continue as employees of the hospital after graduation. Financial status, the hospital environment, and future long-term career goals were important factors affecting the acceptance or rejection of the hospital scholarship. These results could provide insight into factors students consider important for making long-term commitments as a nursing professional, which could not only improve retention of nurses, but also serve as a guideline for career planning.

The relationship between workload and burnout among nurses: The buffering role of personal, social and organisational resources

Workload in the nursing profession is high, which is associated with poor health. Thus, it is important to get a proper understanding of the working situation and to analyse factors which might be able to mitigate the negative effects of such a high workload. In Germany, many people with serious or life-threatening illnesses are treated in non-specialized palliative care settings such as nursing homes, hospitals and outpatient care. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the buffering role of resources on the relationship between workload and burnout among nurses. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was applied. The questionnaire included parts of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) (scale 'quantitative demands' measuring workload, scale 'burnout', various scales to resources), the resilience questionnaire RS-13 and single self-developed questions. Bivariate and moderator analyses were performed. Palliative care aspects, such as the 'extent of palliative care', were incorporated to the analyses as covariates. 497 nurses participated. Nurses who reported 'workplace commitment', a 'good working team' and 'recognition from supervisor' conveyed a weaker association between 'quantitative demands' and 'burnout' than those who did not. On average, nurses spend 20% of their working time with palliative care. Spending more time than this was associated with 'burnout'. The results of our study imply a buffering role of different resources on burnout. Additionally, the study reveals that the 'extent of palliative care' may have an impact on nurse burnout, and should be considered in future studies.

The importance of organizational commitment in rural nurses' intent to leave

Aims

To examine determinants of intention to leave a nursing position in rural and remote areas within the next year, for Registered Nurses or Nurse Practitioners (RNs/NPs) and Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs).

Design

A pan‐Canadian cross‐sectional survey.

Methods

The Nursing Practice in Rural and Remote Canada II survey (2014–2015) used stratified, systematic sampling and obtained two samples of questionnaire responses on intent to leave from 1,932 RNs/NPs and 1,133 LPNs. Separate logistic regression analyses were conducted for RNs/NPs and LPNs.

Results

For RNs/NPs, 19.8% of the variance on intent to leave was explained by 11 variables; and for LPNs, 16.9% of the variance was explained by seven variables. Organizational commitment was the only variable associated with intent to leave for both RNs/NPs and LPNs.

Conclusions

Enhancement of organizational commitment is important in reducing intent to leave and turnover. Since most variables associated with intent to leave differ between RNs/NPs and LPNs, the distinction of nurse type is critical for the development of rural‐specific turnover reduction strategies. Comparison of determinants of intent to leave in the current RNs/NPs analysis with the first pan‐Canadian study of rural and remote nurses (2001–2002) showed similarity of issues for RNs/NPs over time, suggesting that some issues addressing turnover remain unresolved.

Impact

The geographic maldistribution of nurses requires focused attention on nurses' intent to leave. This research shows that healthcare organizations would do well to develop policies targeting specific variables associated with intent to leave for each type of nurse in the rural and remote context. Practical strategies could include specific continuing education initiatives, tailored mentoring programs, and the creation of career pathways for nurses in rural and remote settings. They would also include place‐based actions designed to enhance nurses' integration with their communities and which would be planned together with communities and nurses themselves.

The influence of experiences of involvement in the COVID-19 rescue task on the professional identity among Chinese nurses: A qualitative study

Aims

To explore the influence of experiences of involvement in the COVID‐19 rescue task on professional identity among Chinese nurses from a qualitative method perspective.

Background

Professional identity of nurses is not static and easily affected by many factors. The COVID‐19 epidemic brings the tremendous physical and psychological challenges for rescue nurses. At present, there are limited data on the influence of rescue experiences on the nurses’ professional identity.

Methods

This study used a face‐to‐face interview with semi‐structured questions to learn about the influence of rescue experiences on the professional identity of nurses. Purposeful sampling was used to collect participants (n = 14), and interview data were analysed following the Colaizzi's phenomenological analysis.

Results

The ‘impression of exhaustion and fear’, ‘feeling the unfairness’, ‘perceiving incompetence in rescue task’ and ‘unexpected professional benefits’ were the main factors affecting the professional identity of rescue nurses.

Conclusion

The present study showed that special attention and targeted support measures should be provided to improve the professional identity of rescue nurses.

Implications for Nursing Management

Nurse managers should make a post‐epidemic recovery plan to help nurses to improve the professional identity. Designed education programmes and complete disaster response system should be developed to deal with infection disease in the future.

Influence of headaches on nurse intentions to leave the profession and the hospital: a cross-sectional survey

Background: Few studies had examined whether headaches impact emotional exhaustion among nurses, and nurses' intentions to leave the hospital (current employer) or nursing profession. Objectives/Aims/Hypotheses: To examine the impact of headaches on nurses' self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion, and nurses' intentions to leave the hospital or the profession. Design: A cross-sectional survey design with proportional random sampling was used to collect data. Methods: This study was conducted in one medical center in Taiwan during February and March 2017. Inclusion criteria were full-time registered nurses. Totally, 570 full-time registered nurses were surveyed. Results: Nurse headaches were positively related to emotional exhaustion, which was positively related to the intention to leave the hospital, further positively related to the intention to leave the profession. Self-efficacy was negatively related to the intention to leave the profession. Impact statement and Conclusions: Our findings advise nurse managers to take actions to reduce nurses' headaches.

Analysis of the work environment and intention of perioperative nurses to quit work

OBJECTIVE

to investigate how the perioperative work environment affects work dissatisfaction, professional exhaustion and the perception of the quality of care about the intention of abandoning the work of perioperative nurses.

METHOD

cross-sectional study with 130 nurses working in the surgical area of a high-tech Spanish public university hospital. The scale of the nursing practice environment, Maslach's exhaustion inventory, the questions about job satisfaction, the perception of the care quality and intention to abandon work to collect data were used. Descriptive, inferential and logistic regression statistics were made.

RESULTS

in general, 20% of perioperative nurses would want to quit their work. The dimension of the work environment of staff and resources, dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion in nurses were factors that indicated the intention of perioperative nurses to abandon work.

CONCLUSION

the implementation of strategies for the retention of perioperative nurses should be considered, improving the factors that indicate how the work environment, especially the allocation of personnel and resources, dissatisfaction and emotional exhaustion. Creating positive work environments based on magnetic values can be a key strategy.

Nurses' emotions on care relationship: A qualitative study

AIMS

To describe nurses' experiences regarding the care relationship built with medical-surgical patients in acute hospitalization units and the association with their clinical practice.

BACKGROUND

Nurses' commitment to care and their relationships as well are the core of quality of care. Nurses consider that the emotional commitment is essential to the profession, thus accepting to be exposed to emotional distress.

METHODS

In-depth interviews were conducted to explore the experience of 23 nurses from seven Spanish hospitals. Taped interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed according to inductive content analysis.

RESULTS

Six subcategories emerged from the data analysis: Fulfilling experiences, Feeling the pain of others, Emotional distress, Stepping back, Seeking professional support, and Evolution of emotions, which were combined in two main categories: Nurses' emotions and Nurses' coping strategies. Patient's suffering, work environment and interprofessional relations influence the care relationship.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive and negative emotions emerge spontaneously in professional relationships of experienced nurses. Lack of time and high workloads are factors that hinder the nurse-patient relationship. This care relationship is often the reason that fulfils them. Despite their level of expertise and having coping strategies, these are not always effective and, sometimes, nurses need professional help.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Nurses will continue performing their job with commitment; therefore, nursing managers should take care of their staff and pay attention to the emotional competence related to patients' relationships. Promoting self-care and a good working environment could improve their coping mechanisms.

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between burnout, absenteeism, and job performance among American nurses

Background

Studies suggest a high prevalence of burnout among nurses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between burnout among nurses and absenteeism and work performance.

Methods

A national sample of U.S. nurses was sent an anonymous, cross-sectional survey in 2016. The survey included items about demographics, fatigue, and validated instruments to measure burnout, absenteeism, and poor work performance in the last month.

Results

Of the 3098 nurses who received the survey, 812 (26.2%) responded. The mean age was 52.3 years (SD 12.5), nearly all were women (94.5%) and most were married (61.9%) and had a child (75.2%). Participating nurses had a mean of 25.7 (SD 13.9) years of experience working as nurse and most held a baccalaureate (38.2%) or masters of science (37.1%) degree in nursing. A quarter worked in the inpatient setting (25.5%) and the average hours worked per week was 41.3 (SD 14.1). Overall, 35.3% had symptoms of burnout, 30.7% had symptoms of depression, 8.3% had been absent 1 or more days in the last month due to personal health, and 43.8% had poor work performance in the last month. Nurses who had burnout were more likely to have been absent 1 or more days in the last month (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.25–2.72) and have poor work performance (referent: high performer; medium performer, OR 2.68,95% CI 1.82–3.99; poor performer, OR 5.01, 95% CI 3.09–8.14). After adjusting for age, sex, relationship and parental status, highest academic degree, practice setting, burnout, depression, and satisfaction with work-life integration, nurses who were more fatigued (for each point worsening, OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10–1.37) were more likely to have had absenteeism while those who worked more hours (for each additional hour OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–1.00) were less likely to have had absenteeism. Factors independently associated with poor work performance included burnout (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.43–3.24) and fatigue (for each point of worsening, OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.12–1.33).

Conclusions

These findings suggest burnout is prevalent among nurses and likely impacts work performance.

The effect of nursing care delivery models on quality and safety outcomes of care: A cross-sectional survey study of medical-surgical nurses

AIMS

This study examined the effect of two components of a model of nursing care delivery, the mode of nursing care delivery, and skill-mix on: (a) quality of nursing care; and (b) patient adverse events, after controlling for nurse demographics, work environment, and workload factors.

DESIGN

A cross-sectional exploratory correlational study that drew on secondary data was conducted.

METHODS

Survey data from 416 direct care registered nurses from medical-surgical settings across British Columbia were analysed using hierarchical multiple regression. Larger study data were collected in 2015.

RESULTS

Nurses working in a team-based mode reported a greater number of nursing tasks left undone compared with those working in a total patient care. Nurses working in a skill-mix with licensed practical nurses reported a higher frequency of patient adverse events compared with those working in a skill-mix without licensed practical nurses. At higher levels of acuity, nurses in a team-based mode reported a higher frequency of patient adverse events than did nurses in a total patient care.

CONCLUSION

Models of nursing care delivery components, mode and skill-mix, influenced quality and safety outcomes. Some of the team-based medical-surgical nurses in British Columbia are not functioning as effective teams. Team building strategies should be used to enhance collaboration among them.

IMPACT

Research into redesigning care delivery has typically focused on only one care delivery component at a time. The study findings could have implications for nurses and patients, nursing leadership and policymakers particularly in medical-surgical settings in British Columbia.

Factors affecting recruitment and retention of nurses who deliver clinical research: A qualitative study

AIM

To provide a better understanding of the factors affecting recruitment and retention of clinical research nurses.

DESIGN

Qualitative exploratory design.

METHODS

An on-line questionnaire comprising open-ended and fixed-choice questions was completed by 121 clinical research nurses. Seven focus groups were held with a subgroup of 26 participants. Data were analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Participants were attracted to a research nurse post by an interest in research itself, a desire for a change or to achieve personal objectives. The majority expected to continue in a research post for the next 5 years, while others expected to move on to research management, a clinical post or retirement; few had ambitions to become an independent researcher. Factors identified in focus groups as leading to intentions to leave research included desire for further change, concern about loss of clinical skills, rebalancing family/work responsibilities, short-term contracts, unsupportive employers and limited career progression.

Satisfaction, burnout and intention to stay of emergency nurses in Shanghai

Background

Stability of the nursing workforce is considered a key factor for high-quality healthcare. Satisfaction and burnout are reported to be closely related to staff turnover. This study investigates satisfaction and burnout of ED nurses in Shanghai and association of these factors with intention to stay on the job.

Methods

This is a cross-sectional descriptive survey study conducted between October and December 2015. Our own questionnaire and the Maslach Burnout Inventory were used to construct the survey. The convenience sampling method was used. The survey targeted ED nurses in 30 Shanghai hospitals. Data were analysed using descriptive, non-paired t-tests, analysis of variance and multivariable logistic regression to decipher possible causes for burnout and identify reasons for continued interest in staying on the job by ED nurses.

Results

Of 1137 nurses who received surveys, 976 (87%) responded. Among the respondents, 75% reported being very satisfied or satisfied with their jobs, but there was a high level of burnout, and 22.5% of the nurses expressed their intention to leave the ED within the following year (p<0.05). Nurses’ satisfaction and burnout were associated with intention to leave. Salary, nurse–patient relationships, nurse staffing and work environment were areas where nurses were less satisfied, while group cohesion was associated with greater satisfaction.

Conclusion

ED nurses in Shanghai report a high level of burnout, which is associated with an intention to leave their jobs. Interventions are needed to improve satisfaction and reduce burnout to maintain the stability of the nursing workforce.

The Impact of Heavy Perceived Nurse Workloads on Patient and Nurse Outcomes

This study investigated the relationships between seven workload factors and patient and nurse outcomes. (1) Background: Health systems researchers are beginning to address nurses’ workload demands at different unit, job and task levels; and the types of administrative interventions needed for specific workload demands. (2) Methods: This was a cross-sectional correlational study of 472 acute care nurses from British Columbia, Canada. The workload factors included nurse reports of unit-level RN staffing levels and patient acuity and patient dependency; job-level nurse perceptions of heavy workloads, nursing tasks left undone and compromised standards; and task-level interruptions to work flow. Patient outcomes were nurse-reported frequencies of medication errors, patient falls and urinary tract infections; and nurse outcomes were emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. (3) Results: Job-level perceptions of heavy workloads and task-level interruptions had significant direct effects on patient and nurse outcomes. Tasks left undone mediated the relationships between heavy workloads and nurse and patient outcomes; and between interruptions and nurse and patient outcomes. Compromised professional nursing standards mediated the relationships between heavy workloads and nurse outcomes; and between interruptions and nurse outcomes. (4) Conclusion: Administrators should work collaboratively with nurses to identify work environment strategies that ameliorate workload demands at different levels.