Factors influencing turnover and absence of nurses: a research review

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0020-7489(97)00031-XGet rights and content

Abstract

This review of the nursing literature aims to identify the factors with the greatest influence on turnover and absence of qualified nurses, possible common factors influencing both, and the relationship between absence and turnover. A hypothetical model grounded in the literature which depicts the expected relationships between these variables is presented for testing in an empirical study.

The review identifies intent to stay in current employment as the variable with the greatest influence on turnover. Intent to stay is in turn most strongly associated with job satisfaction. Other variables are identified by single studies as having an influence on intent to stay, but are not supported by the results of other studies; exceptions are pay, opportunity for alternative employment and kinship responsibility, which are supported by the results of two studies. The relationship between job satisfaction and absence is unclear and requires further investigation. However, job satisfaction is identified as possibly influencing both absence and intent to stay and kinship responsibility is identified as a common antecedent of absence and intent to stay. Similarly, absence is identified as an antecedent to turnover. Thus, it is expected that absence would be positively related to turnover and negatively related to intent to stay. Understanding such relationships should allow identification of management strategies to reduce both turnover and absence.

References (51)

  • J. Buchan

    Nursing shortages and human resource planning

    International Journal of Nursing Studies

    (1994)
  • R.D. Hackett et al.

    A re-evaluation of the absenteeism-job satisfaction relationship

    Organisational Behaviour and Human Decision Making Process

    (1985)
  • P.P. Brooke

    Beyond the Steers and Rhodes model of employee attendance

    Academy of Management Review

    (1986)
  • R. Burton

    Tackling staff absenteeism

    Nursing Standard

    (1992)
  • S.J. Cavanagh

    Nursing turnover: literature review and methodological critique

    Journal of Advanced Nursing

    (1989)
  • S.J. Cavanagh

    Predictors of nursing staff turnover

    Journal of Advanced Nursing

    (1990)
  • S.J. Cavanagh et al.

    Staff turnover among hospital nurses

    Journal of Advanced Nursing

    (1992)
  • J. Clark

    Time Out? A Study of Absenteeism Among Nurses

  • D. Farrell et al.

    Commitment, absenteeism and turnover of new employees: A longitudinal study

    Human Relations

    (1984)
  • D. Farrell et al.

    Meta-analysis of the correlates of employee absence

    Human relation

    (1988)
  • M. Fishbein et al.
  • M.L. Fisher et al.

    Selected predictors of registered nurses' intent to stay

    Journal of Advanced Nursing

    (1994)
  • T.H. Hammer et al.

    Methodological issues in the use of absence data

    Journal of Applied Psychology

    (1981)
  • A.S. Hinshaw et al.

    Innovative retention strategies for nursing staff

    Journal of Nursing Administration

    (1987)
  • D.M. Irvine et al.

    Job satisfaction and turnover among nurses: integrating research findings across studies

    Nursing Research

    (1995)
  • G.L. Landstrom et al.

    The emotional and behavioural process of staff nurse turnover

    Journal of Nursing Administration

    (1989)
  • J.B. Lee et al.

    The effects of a policy change on three types of absence

    Journal of Nursing Administration

    (1990)
  • M.D. Lucas et al.

    Replication and validation of anticipated turnover model for urban registered nurses

    Nursing Research

    (1993)
  • J. Macleod Clark et al.

    Absence and wastage in nursing

    Nursing Times

    (1978)
  • J. Macleod Clark et al.

    Absence and wastage in nursing

    Nursing Times

    (1978)
  • P. Matrunola

    Is there a relationship between job satisfaction and absenteeism

    Journal of Advanced Nursing

    (1996)
  • C.E. Michaels et al.

    Causes of employee turnover: a test of the Mobley, Griffeth and Meglino model

    Journal of Applied Psychology

    (1982)
  • D.S. Miller et al.

    Absenteeism: nursing services' albatross

    Journal of Nursing Administration

    (1986)
  • W.H. Mobley

    Intermediate linkages in the relationship between job satisfaction and employee turnover

    Journal of Applied Psychology

    (1977)
  • W.H. Mobley et al.

    Review and conceptual analysis of the employee turnover process

    Psychological Bulletin

    (1979)
  • Cited by (146)

    View all citing articles on Scopus
    View full text