Leaving the organization or the profession - a multilevel analysis of nurses' intentions.
OBJECTIVE
This paper is a report of a study of (i) which variables are associated with the intention to leave the profession (ii) which variables are associated with the intention to leave the organization; and (iii) how the related variables differ between intentions in a secondary analysis of data of the German part of the European Nurses' Early Exit Study.


BACKGROUND
Nursing turnover research so far rarely differentiates between leaving the profession or the organization. The identification of specific correlates for different leaving intentions would support better understanding of the turnover process and the development of targeted measures to reduce turnover.


METHODS
A secondary data analysis of the German sample of the European Nurses' Early Exit-Study was performed, using a generalized linear mixed model approach.


RESULTS
Data from 2119 Registered Nurses in 71 departments of 16 hospitals from 2003 were analysed. Models for intentions to leave the profession explained more of the variance (r(2) = 0.46) than models for intentions to leave the organization (r(2) = 0.28). Both leaving intentions were associated with age, professional commitment and job satisfaction. Intentions to leave the profession were strongly associated with variables related to the personal background and the work/home interface whereas intentions to leave the organization were related to organizational leadership and the local context.


CONCLUSIONS
Retention initiatives should address the work-home interface. Surveys assessing nursing turnover should be based on comprehensive turnover definitions, including different leaving directions.
Simon
Michael
M
School of Nursing, University of Kansas Medical Center, USA. msimon@kumc.edu
Müller
Bernd Hans
BH
Hasselhorn
Hans Martin
HM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D015401:Nursing Administration Research / Q000379:methods; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology*; D010563:Personnel Turnover; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult