Purpose During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, anxiety and need satisfaction may predict turnover intention among emergency room nurses, with need satisfaction negatively influencing turnover intention. This study aimed to examine the mediating effect of need satisfaction on the relationship between COVID-19–induced anxiety and job turnover intention among emergency room nurses during the pandemic.
Methods This descriptive cross-sectional study recruited 206 emergency room nurses from 11 hospitals in South Korea. Data were collected using a questionnaire from December 2022 to February 2023.
Results High COVID-19–induced anxiety was associated with increased turnover intention among nurses. Physiological needs partially mediated the relationship between COVID-19–induced anxiety and turnover intention. However, safety and belongingness needs showed no mediating effect.
Conclusion During the COVID-19 pandemic, if physiological needs were not satisfied, reducing anxiety and turnover intention among emergency room nurses proved challenging, even when other needs were met. Therefore, physiological needs should be prioritized and addressed before focusing on other types of needs.
Purpose According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the turnover rate of nurses working at regional trauma centers is 27.6%, which is almost double the turnover rate of 13.8% of all nurses in 2018. The turnover of nurses lowers the morale of the remaining nurses and increases their workload, negatively affecting hospital operation.
This study aimed to investigate the mediation effect of grit on the relationship between the working environment and intention to stay at work among regional trauma center nurses, to reduce the turnover rate and improve their intention to stay at work. Methods The participants were 185 nurses with more than six months of clinical experience working at 16 regional trauma centers in South Korea. The data were collected using structured questionnaires from July 1, 2022 to July 31, 2022, and analysis was conducted using SPSS/WIN 25.0 programs. Results The intention to stay at work among regional trauma center nurses was different depending on age (F=6.32, p=.002), marital status (F=-3.66, p<.001), education level (F=5.29, p=.006), and total clinical experience (F=4.22, p=.007).
Grit was found to have a complete mediating effect on the relationship between work environment and intention to stay at work (Z=4.49, p<.001). Conclusion To lower the turnover rate of trauma nurses and increase their intention to stay at work, it is necessary to subdivide the intervention program for various ages and clinical career, and to develop a mediation program that can improve nurses' grit by improving the working environment.
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