Understanding turnover in nurses: A diary study on the impact of work experiences on professional commitment and the intention to stay.

Mayer, Miriam Elisabeth (2024) Understanding turnover in nurses: A diary study on the impact of work experiences on professional commitment and the intention to stay. Research Master thesis, Research Master.

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Abstract

Significant nursing shortages, exacerbated by high turnover rates, threatens healthcare quality. Nurse retention is crucial, yet little is known about the factors influencing nurses' intention to stay (ITS) within their organization. Therefore, the study aims to explore nurses' perceptions of their work environment and assess how these experiences influence their ITS by employing a diary study with an exploratory mixed-method longitudinal design. Data were collected between March and September 2022. Factors that shape nurses’ work experiences were derived from 360 diary entries of 33 nurses over ten weeks and combined with weekly measures of commitment and ITS. Multi-level path modelling revealed that work experiences indirectly influenced nurses' ITS through professional commitment. Factors contributing to commitment included positive emotions, positive client interactions, a constructive appraisal of existential events, feeling competent, critical reflections on the healthcare system, and negative emotions. A lack of autonomy was directly related to a decreased ITS. Age emerged as the strongest predictor, with younger nurses reporting lower levels of commitment and ITS. However, the model was too complex for reliable estimation, making replication studies on larger samples imperative. Based on the results, it seems essential to offer differentiated opportunities based on competence and age, alongside providing structural support for nurses, especially young ones, to learn to constructively appraise their experiences as positive emotions are essential. Organizations are recommended to collaboratively develop a shared vision and enlarge nurses’ autonomy to proactively shape their environment towards this vision. Keywords: Nurse retention, work environment perceptions, professional commitment, intention to stay (ITS), positive emotions, autonomy, age differences

Item Type:	Thesis (Research Master)
Supervisor name:	Brouwer, J.
Degree programme:	Research Master
Differentiation route:	Lifespan Development and Socialization [Research Master]
Date Deposited:	14 Mar 2024 15:46
Last Modified:	14 Mar 2024 15:46
URI:	http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3224

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