Christopher Bratt1, Heidi Gautun2. 1. School of Psychology, University of Kent, Kent, UK. 2. Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
AIMS: This study investigates the prevalence of nurses' wishes to leave work in elderly care services and aims to explain differences between younger and older nurses. BACKGROUND: Health-and-care services, and specifically elderly care services, experience problems recruiting and retaining nurses. METHOD: A nationwide survey among nurses in Norway with 4,945 nurses aged 20-73 (mean age = 41.8), 95% female. Structural equation modelling was used, analysing the whole sample as well as analysing younger and older nurses as separate groups. RESULTS: Of the nurses surveyed, 25% wanted to work outside elderly care services and 25% were uncertain. The wish to leave was much more frequent among younger nurses. Reported working conditions were a strong predictor of the wish to leave, and a much stronger predictor among younger nurses than older nurses in nursing homes. CONCLUSIONS: Working conditions are a major predictor of nurses' wishes to leave elderly care services, especially among younger nurses in nursing homes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Attempts to reduce turnover in elderly care services need to address the working conditions for younger nurses, for instance by reducing the time young nurses work in isolation.
AIMS: This study investigates the prevalence of nurses' wishes to leave work in elderly care services and aims to explain differences between younger and older nurses. BACKGROUND: Health-and-care services, and specifically elderly care services, experience problems recruiting and retaining nurses. METHOD: A nationwide survey among nurses in Norway with 4,945 nurses aged 20-73 (mean age = 41.8), 95% female. Structural equation modelling was used, analysing the whole sample as well as analysing younger and older nurses as separate groups. RESULTS: Of the nurses surveyed, 25% wanted to work outside elderly care services and 25% were uncertain. The wish to leave was much more frequent among younger nurses. Reported working conditions were a strong predictor of the wish to leave, and a much stronger predictor among younger nurses than older nurses in nursing homes. CONCLUSIONS: Working conditions are a major predictor of nurses' wishes to leave elderly care services, especially among younger nurses in nursing homes. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT: Attempts to reduce turnover in elderly care services need to address the working conditions for younger nurses, for instance by reducing the time young nurses work in isolation.
Authors: Ellen J M Bakker; Jos H A M Kox; Cécile R L Boot; Anneke L Francke; Allard J van der Beek; Pepijn D D M Roelofs Journal: J Adv Nurs Date: 2020-07-15 Impact factor: 3.187