Document Type : Original Article
Authors
/
Abstract
v
Introduction: The global shortage of nurses and their intention to leave their occupation is a worldwide challenge. Intention to stay at nursing profession might be effective in preventing nurses from quitting their occupation. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate the intention to stay at nursing profession and its related factors.
Methods: This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted on 264 nurses working in the hospitals affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences. The study data were collected using demographic characteristics form and assessment of working experience (years), workplace, working hours per week, employment status, interest in nursing, place of studying, and intention to stay at nursing profession. Then, the data were analyzed using the SPSS statistical software (v. 16).
Results: The findings revealed that 133 nurses (53.2%) had high and very high intention to stay at nursing profession. However, 20 nurses (8%) did not have any intention to continue their occupation. A significant relationship was found between the nurses’ intention to stay at their profession and sex (c2=14.69, P=0.01), age (F=3.95, P=0.004), employment status (c2=18.01, P=0.02), workplace (c2=31.41, P=0.01), and interest in nursing (c2=28.98, P<0.0001). The results of linear regression analysis showed that 50% of the variance of intention to stay at nursing profession was determined by the study variables. Besides, age, sex, and interest in nursing were associated with intention to stay at nursing profession.
Conclusion: Females, formal and semi-formal employees, younger individuals, and those who worked in internal wards had higher intentions to stay at nursing profession. However, males and contractual employees had a lower intention to stay at nursing profession. Therefore, authorities should pay more attention to these individuals. Also, more studies are suggested to be conducted on the reasons for these individuals' lower intention.
Keywords
)