Nursing Turnover Essay

Healthcare systems and health organizations in many countries including Jordan are faced with a number of challenges such as shortage of health professionals, low productivity and high rates of turnover, most specifically among nurses(AbuAlRub, Gharaibeh, & Bashayreh, 2012; Bae, Mark, & Fried, 2010). Nursing shortage is a national wide problem that affects health care delivery system, which is attributed to many factors including increased demand for health care, increased life expectancy, population growth, and high number of chronically and critically ill patients (Abo-Znadh, 1999; Bae et al., 2010; Fochsen, Josephson, Hagberg, Toomingas, & Lagerström, 2006). Shortage of nursing work force is getting worsened by the high rates of turnover

Strategies to decrease turnover and retain nurses should take the priority in the agendas of nursing managers (Cowden, Cummings, & Profetto-Mcgrath, 2011). Many factors may lead to nurse's turnover according to the literature those include and not limited to, working long shifts, overtime, weekends, nights and holidays, scheduling and staffing level, low payment (Ellen, Pamela, Nancy, Mary, & Belva, 2003), lack of recognition and low professional status, job dissatisfaction and inadequate opportunity for professional development (Cartledge, 2001; Cowden et al., 2011; Smith, Capitulo, T, & Fitzpatrick, 2012), excessive stress, low morale and promotion prospects, the need for high standards of education, the difficulties posed by family responsibilities and lack of proper leadership(Cowden et al., 2011; Smith et al., 2012) all may lead to higher rates of turnover. Nationally, in 2009 Hayajneh et al. concluded that the estimated overall turnover rate was 36.6% in Jordanian hospitals, which was congruent with international turnover rate. In this study the authors have attributed the high turnover rate to many factors, such as high demand for nursing workforce by regional and international hospitals, the gap in salary and benefits between different hospitals, the tendency of RNs to seek employment in hospitals close to their place of residence(Hayajneh, AbuAlRub,

Many previous researches on the working environment in various industries, including healthcare, have questioned the impact and importance of QWL in overcoming these challenges (Hsu & Kernohan, 2006; Lee, Dai, Park, & McCreary, 2013; Nayeri, Salehi, & Noghabi, 2011; Tung-Chun HuangJohn LawlerChing-Yi,