PURPOSE: This study was designed to examine effects of sense of calling, job satisfaction and organizational commitment on retention intention in nurses who are at the advanced beginner-stage. METHODS: Participants were 199 nurses with 13 to 36 months' clinical career at hospital located in Busan, Korea. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent t-test, one-way ANOVA, Scheffé test, Pearson correlation, and Multiple regression. RESULTS: Retention intention correlated positively with sense of calling (r=.43, p<.001), job satisfaction (r=.31, p<.001) and organizational commitment (r=.31, p<.001). Factors affecting the participants' retention intention were found to be statistically significant (F=21.96, p<.001). Total factor score accounted for 24.1% of retention intention. Out of the related factors, the most influential factor was 'goals/meaning', belonging to the sub-areas of the sense of calling and explaining 18.2% of retention intention, followed by organizational commitment and average monthly income in that order. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest a need to develop a management program that helps promote retention intention for nurses at the advanced beginner-stage by both improving their monthly income and outside conditions and, more importantly, raising their sense of calling, especially in association with the goals/meaning of their life.