Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamental Nursing  2019;26(1):42-51

doi:10.7739/jkafn.2019.26.1.42

Influences of Occupational Stress, Ethical Dilemma, and Burnout on Turnover Intention in Hospital Nurses

Myoung Yi CHOI 1 ; Hyang Sook SO ; Eun KO

Affiliations

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Keywords

Nurses; Employee turnover; Occupational stress; Ethics

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

Korean

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this research was to identify the relationships between occupational stress, ethical dilemma, burnout and turnover intention and the factors influencing turnover intention in hospital nurses. METHODS: The participants, 215 nurses, were recruited from two university hospitals located in two provinces of Korea. Data were collected through self-report questionnaires. Collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression with SPSS/WIN 22.0. RESULTS: Participants' scores for occupational stress, ethical dilemma, burnout and turnover intention were 3.96±0.45, 2.60±0.39, 3.71±0.70, and 3.50±0.90 respectively. The results show that the higher the score for occupational stress, ethical dilemma, and burnout the higher the score for turnover intention. The most important factor influencing turnover intention was burnout (β=.42, p < .001), followed by position (β=.21, p=.001), educational level (β=.21, p=.007), ethical dilemma (β=.13, p=.020) in that order. These factors explained 43.5% of total variance in turnover intention (F=19.34, p < .001). CONCLUSION: Changes in hospital structural management systems and support strategies should be developed and operated, taking into account burnout, ethical dilemma, and personal characteristics of clinical nurses in order to reduce turnover.