Surgical nurses' intention to leave a workplace in Iceland: a questionnaire study.

• Published in: Journal of Nursing Management
• Main Authors: Sveinsdóttir, Herdís, Blöndal, Katrín
• Other Authors: University of Iceland, Faculty of Nursing, Reykjavík, Iceland; Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2015
• Subjects: Skurðhjúkrun; Starfsánægja; Nursing Staff; Hospital; Job Satisfaction; Questionnaires; Perioperative Nursing; Workload; Professional Practice; Iceland
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2336/338648; https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12013

To access publisher's full text version of this article click on the hyperlink at the bottom of the page To explore surgical nurses' reported determinants of intention to leave a workplace. Nurses' work environment influences nurses' intent to leave the workplace. A descriptive, quantitative study design using a structured questionnaire was used to measure the intention of all nurses (n = 383; 49% response rate) working at the surgical division at Landspítali-The National University Hospital of Iceland to leave a practice. Low general job satisfaction, followed by little praise from nurse managers and having to perform unprofessional work had the greatest influence on nurses' intention to leave a workplace. In addition, nurses who found their own knowledge respected, but were not pleased with the work were more likely to consider leaving. A lack of praise by unit managers, engagement in unprofessional work, low job satisfaction coupled with having ones' knowledge respected and a non-competitive work climate are factors contributing to nurses' intention to leave. Factors contributing to nurses' intention to leave may result in a lack of interest in work, low morale and may ultimately lead to unsafe patient care. Managers benefit from building and supporting a work morale that fosters nurses' intentions to stay in a professional work environment. This includes providing nurses with regular feedback about clinical work. University of Iceland Science Fund and the Landspitali University Hospital Science Fund.