Lin Yulan, Hu Zhijian, Danaee Mahmoud, Alias Haridah, Wong Li Ping
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350122, Fujian Province, People's Republic of China.
Centre for Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Practice, Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Risk Manag Healthc Policy. 2021 Aug 27;14:3605-3615. doi: 10.2147/RMHP.S322764. eCollection 2021.
A shortage of nurses has been a major global concern, particularly during pandemics. Nursing students turning away from the nursing profession upon graduation may exacerbate nursing workforce shortfalls. The main objective of this study was to assess perceived occupational turnover intention among nursing students and associated factors (fear of COVID-19 and life satisfaction). Students were also asked to provide suggestions that could enhance their intention to join the nursing profession.
An online survey was sent to all registered undergraduate nursing students at Fujian Medical University, China. The partial least squares structural equation model (PLS-SEM) was used to investigate key factors influencing turnover intention.
A total of 1020 complete responses were received (response rate: 86.2%). Nearly half (49.1%) reported that they would choose not to be on a nursing course if given a choice, 45.4% often think of not going into the nursing profession in the future, and 23.7% would consider entering a healthcare industry that has zero contact with patients. The total turnover intention score range was 3 to 15, and the mean ± standard deviation (SD) was 9.2 (SD ± 2.5). PLS-SEM path analysis revealed that fear of COVID-19 (β = 0.226, < 0.001) had a positive effect on turnover intention. Satisfaction with life (β = -0.212, < 0.001) had a negative effect on turnover intention. Analysis of open-ended survey data on students' perspectives on how to encourage nursing students to enter the nursing workforce revealed five central themes: 1) professional role, respect, and recognition; 2) higher wages; 3) reduce workload; 4) enhance occupational health and safety; and 5) career advancement opportunities.
Factors influencing turnover intention and suggestions to reduce students' apprehension towards joining the nursing profession found in this study should be seriously taken into consideration in initiatives to address the nurse shortages.
护士短缺一直是全球主要关注的问题，尤其是在疫情期间。护理专业学生毕业后不愿从事护理工作可能会加剧护理人员短缺的情况。本研究的主要目的是评估护理专业学生的职业离职意向及相关因素（对新冠病毒的恐惧和生活满意度）。还要求学生提供能够增强他们从事护理职业意愿的建议。
向中国福建医科大学所有注册的本科护理专业学生发送了一份在线调查问卷。采用偏最小二乘结构方程模型（PLS-SEM）来研究影响离职意向的关键因素。
共收到1020份完整回复（回复率：86.2%）。近一半（49.1%）的人表示，如果可以选择，他们不会选择护理课程；45.4%的人经常考虑未来不从事护理职业；23.7%的人会考虑进入与患者零接触的医疗行业。离职意向总得分范围为3至15分，平均±标准差（SD）为9.2（SD±2.5）。PLS-SEM路径分析显示，对新冠病毒的恐惧（β = 0.226，<0.001）对离职意向有正向影响。生活满意度（β = -0.212，<0.001）对离职意向有负向影响。对关于如何鼓励护理专业学生进入护理行业的开放式调查数据进行分析，发现了五个核心主题：1）职业角色、尊重和认可；2）提高工资；3）减轻工作量；4）加强职业健康与安全；5）职业发展机会。
本研究中发现的影响离职意向的因素以及减少学生对从事护理职业担忧的建议，在解决护士短缺问题的举措中应予以认真考虑。
