Turnover Intention and Its Relationship with Nurses’ Sociodemographic and Professional Characteristics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5294/aqui.2026.26.1.6Keywords:
Nurse, turnover, sociodemographic characteristics, professional characteristics, quality of care, patient safetyAbstract
Introduction: The shortage of nurses associated with the turnover phenomenon has serious consequences for organizations, professionals, and patients, as it compromises the quality and safety of care, as well as the equitable distribution of nurses and the sustainability of healthcare services. The intention to turnover is considered the best predictor and precursor of the final decision to leave the organization. Objective: To assess the relationship between turnover intention and the sociodemographic and professional characteristics of a sample of nurses. Materials and Methods: Quantitative, observational, descriptive, correlational, and cross-sectional study, with a non-probabilistic convenience sample consisting of 338 nurses. A turnover intention assessment scale translated and validated for Portugal (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.91) was used. Descriptive and inferential analysis, with the application of parametric tests, for a significance level of 0.05, was performed using the IBM SPSS Statistics version 30.0. Results: Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between the composite variables: Intention to leave and intention to remain, and the sociodemographic and professional variables: Age group, marital status, employment contract type, length of service, length of service at the institution, length of permanence in the current service/unit, and work setting. Conclusion: Knowledge of the main sociodemographic and professional characteristics associated with nurses’ turnover intentions allows for the early implementation of strategies, especially those aimed at professionals at greater risk of leaving the institution, promoting team stability, which is essential for ensuring the quality and safety of nursing care.
Downloads
References
Liu Y, Duan Y, Guo M. Turnover Intention and Its Associated Factors among Nurses: A Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study. Front Public Health. 2023;11:1141441. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2023.1141441
Falatah R, Conway E. Linking Relational Coordination to Nurses’ Job Satisfaction, Affective Commitment and Turnover Intention in Saudi Arabia. J Nurs Manag. 2019;27(4):715-21. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12735
Kim Y, Han K. Longitudinal Associations of Nursing Staff Turnover with Patient Outcomes in Long-Term Care Hospitals in Korea. J Nurs Manag. 2018;26(5):518-24. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12576
World Health Organization. (2021). Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health: Workforce 2030. World Health Organization. Disponível em: https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241511131
Nascimento LH do, Guerra GM, Nunes JGP, Cruz D de ALM da. Estratégias de retenção de profissionais de enfermagem nos hospitais: protocolo de scoping review. Rev. Enf. Ref [Internet]. 30 de setembro de 2019 [citado 20 de dezembro de 2025];4(22):161-8. Disponível em: https://revistas.rcaap.pt/referencia/article/view/32717
Labrague LJ, Gloe D, McEnroe DM, Konstantinos K, Colet P. Factors Influencing Turnover Intention among Registered Nurses in Samar Philippines. Appl Nurs Res. 2018;39:200-6. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apnr.2017.11.027
Han SS, Han JW, An YS, Lim SH. Effects of Role Stress on Nurses’ Turnover Intentions: The Mediating Effects of Organizational Commitment and Burnout. Jpn J Nurs Sci. 2015;12:287-96. DOI: https:// doi.org/10.1111/jjns.12067
Yurumezoglu HA, Kocaman G, Haydari SM. Predicting Nurses’ Organizational and Professional Turnover Intentions. Jpn J Nurs Sci. 2019;16(3):274-85. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jjns.12236
Pishgooie AH, Shoorideh FA, Pegueroles AF, Lotfi Z. Correlation Between Nursing Managers’ Leadership Styles and Nurses’ Job Stress and Anticipated Turnover. J Nurs Manag. 2019;27:527-34. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12707
Carmeli A, Weisberg J. Exploring Turnover Intentions among Three Professional Groups of Employees. Hum Resour Dev Int. 2006;9(2):191-206. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13678860600616305
Aiken LH, Lasater KB, Sloane DM, Pogue CA, Fitzpatrick Rosenbaum KE, Muir KJ et al. Physician and Nurse Well-Being and Preferred Interventions to Address Burnout in Hospital Practice: Factors Associated with Turnover, Outcomes, and Patient Safety. JAMA Health Forum. 2023;4(7):e231809. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamahealthforum.2023.1809
Lee HF, Chiang HY, Kuo HT. Relationship Between Authentic Leadership and Nurses’ Intent to Leave: The Mediating Role of Work Environment and Burnout. J Nurs Manag. 2019;27(1):52-65. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12648
Leineweber C, Chungkham HS, Lindqvist R, Westerlund H, Runesdotter S, Smeds Alenius L et al. Nurses’ Practice Environment and Satisfaction with Schedule Flexibility Is Related to Intention to Leave Due to Dissatisfaction: A Multi-Country, Multilevel Study. Int J Nurs Stud. 2016;58:47-58. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2016.02.003
Leone C, Bruyneel L, Anderson JE, Murrells T, Dussault G, Jesus ÉH et al. Work Environment Issues and Intention-To-Leave in Portuguese Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study. Health Policy. 2015;119(12):1584-92. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthpol.2015.09.006
De Sul S, Lucas P. Translation and Validation of the Anticipated Turnover Scale for the Portuguese Cultural Context. Nurs Open. 2020;7(5):1475-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.521
Jesus B. O Ambiente de Prática de Enfermagem e a Intenção de Turnover em Contexto Hospitalar [dissertação de mestrado]. Lisboa: ESEL; 2021.
Silva B. The Relationship between Nurse Managers’ Leadership Styles and Nurses’ Turnover Intention [dissertação de mestrado]. Porto: Faculdade de Economia da Universidade do Porto; 2023.
Callado A, Teixeira G, Lucas P. Turnover Intention and Organizational Commitment of Primary Healthcare Nurses. Healthcare. 2023;11(4):521. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11040521
Sanaranayake DA, Gellatly I, Cummings G. A Contextual Work-Life Experience Model to Understand Nurse Commitment and Turnover. J Adv Nurs. 2018;74:2053-63. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.13718
Burmeister EA, Kalisch BJ, Xie B, Doumit MAA, Lee E, Ferraresion A et al. Determinants of Nurse Absenteeism and Intent to Leave: An International Study. J Nurs Manag. 2019;27(1):143-53. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12659
Jiang H, Wang Y, Chui E, Xu Y. Professional Identity and Turnover Intentions of Social Workers in Beijing, China: The Roles of Job Satisfaction and Agency Type. Int Soc Work. 2019;62(1):146-60. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872817712564
Park H, Kim PJ, Lee HY, Shin YJ, Oh KH, Lee TW et al. Factors Affecting the Intention of Hospital Nurses to Stay at Work: In Relation to Authentic Leadership and Nursing Organizational Culture. J Korean Clin Nurs Res. 2019;25(1):34-42. DOI: https://doi.org/10.22650/JKCNR.2019.25.1.34
Organização para a Cooperação e Desenvolvimento Económico (OCDE), Observatoire européen des systèmes et des politiques de santé. Portugal: Perfil de Saúde do País 2023. Paris: Éditions OCDE; 2024. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1787/6be7d83c-pt
Montgomery DC, Runger GC. Applied Statistics and Probability for Engineers. Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons; 2013.
Almeida S. Estatística Aplicada à Investigação em Ciências da Saúde. Loures: Lusodidacta; 2017.
Hariyati RT, Nurdiana N. Retention Strategy to Minimize Nurse Turnover: A Systematic Review. Int J Nurs Health Serv. 2019;1(2):99-109. DOI: https://doi.org/10.35654/ijnhs.v1i2.47
Nursing Solutions Inc. 2019 National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report. 2019. Disponível em: https://s3.amazonaws.com/nursing-network/production/files/90297/original/2019_National_Health_Care_Retention_Report__281_29.pdf?1572450327
Sasso L, Bagnasco A, Catania G, Zanini M, Aleo G, Watson R; RN4CAST@IT Working Group. Push and Pull Factors of Nurses’ Intention to Leave. J Nurs Manag. 2019;27(5):946-54. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12745
Aiken LH, Sermeus W, McKee M, Bruyneel L, Rafferty AM, Heinen MM et al. Physician and Nurse Well-Being, Patient Safety and Recommendations for Interventions: Cross-Sectional Survey in Hospitals in Six European Countries. BMJ Open. 2024;14(2):e079931. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079931
Hinshaw AS, Atwood JR. Anticipated Turnover among Nursing Staff Study: Final Report. Bethesda (MD): National Center for Nursing Research, National Institute of Health; 1984.
Antunes I. O papel da qualidade de vida no trabalho e as intenções de turnover dos profissionais de saúde do Hospital Distrital de Santarém [dissertação de mestrado]. Santarém: Politécnico de Santarém; 2022.
Rivaz M, Tavakolinia M, Momennasab M. Nursing Professional Practice Environment and Its Relationship with Nursing Outcomes in Intensive Care Units: A Test of the Structural Equation Model. Scand J Caring Sci. 2020;00:1-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/scs.12877
McElreath R. A Comparative Analysis of Job Satisfaction, Burnout, and Intent to Leave among Nurses [dissertação de doutoramento]. Walden University; 2020. Disponível em: https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/dissertations/8404
Wu F, Lao Y, Feng Y, Zhu J, Zhang Y, Li L. Worldwide Prevalence and Associated Factors of Nursing Staff Turnover: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nurs Open. 2024;11(1):e2097. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/nop2.2097
Sato A, Sato Y, Sugawara N, Shinozaki M, Okayasu H, Kawamata Y et al. Predictors of the Intentions to Leave among Nurses in an Academic Medical Center. PCN Rep. 2022;1(4):e48. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/pcn5.48
DiMattio MJK, Spegman AM. Educational Preparation and Nurse Turnover Intention from the Hospital Bedside. OJIN Online J Issues Nurs. 2019;24(2). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3912/OJIN.Vol24No02PPT22
Maashi T, Pogorzelska-Maziarz M, Johansen ML, Grafova I, de Cordova PB. Factors Contributing to Nurses’ Intent to Leave During COVID-19. Res Nurs Health. 2024;47(5):573-81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/nur.22410
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Carla Maria Ferreira Guerreiro da Silva Mendes, Élvio Henriques de Jesus, Iola Maria Silvério Pinto, Beatriz Rodrigues Araújo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
1. Proposed Policy for Journals That Offer Open Access
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- The journal and its papers are published with the Creative Commons License Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0). You are free to share copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format if you: give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made; don’t use our material for commercial purposes; don’t remix, transform, or build upon the material.
