Influence of work-related characteristics and work ability on changing employer or leaving the profession among nursing staff.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate how work-related characteristics and work ability influence nursing staff decisions to change employer or leave the profession.


BACKGROUND
Previous cross-sectional studies have indicated that decreased work ability and unfavourable work-related characteristics are important determinants for the intention to leave the profession among nursing staff.


METHODS
A 1-year longitudinal study, using data from the European Nurses' Early Exit Study. The study population consisted of 9927 (66%) members of the eligible nursing staff of which 345 left their current employer. Work-related characteristics, work ability and employment status were assessed by questionnaires.


RESULTS
Nursing staff with a low work ability were more likely to either change employer or leave the profession. Among nursing staff with a low work ability the risk of changing employer increased significantly with unfavourable work-related characteristics. However, among nursing staff with a good work ability the risk of changing employer barely changed with unfavourable work-related characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
The negative effects of decreased work ability on changing employer and leaving the profession are partly counterbalanced by favourable psychological and physical work-related characteristics.


CONCLUSIONS
Managers should implement strategies that focus on promoting the work ability of nursing staff in combination with improving work-related characteristics in order to prevent unnecessary changes of employment.
Department of Public Health, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Anne
A
Rongen
Suzan J W
SJ
Robroek
Beatrice I J M
BI
van der Heijden
Roel
R
Schouteten
Hans Martin
HM
Hasselhorn
Alex
A
Burdorf
D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004651:Employment / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D033182:Intention; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000523:psychology* / Q000600:supply & distribution; D010563:Personnel Turnover / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
longitudinal design; nursing staff; turnover; work ability index; work characteristics