Relationship between Healthy Work Environment, Job Satisfaction and Anticipated Turnover among Nurses in Intensive Care unit (ICUs)

Author(s):

Tahmine Salehi, Mahmood Barzegar, Mir saeed Yekaninejad and Hadi Ranjbar

Background and Aim: Shortage of nursing workforce and tendency to quit job are among major problems of health systems all across the world. They also have a negative impact on the quality of care. Intensive care nurses work in specialized and highly stressful workplaces, and their perceptions on the health of their workplace can affect their job satisfaction and their tendency to quit work. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between the Healthy Work Environment, job satisfaction and anticipated turnover among ICU nurses. Methods: This cross-sectional study was descriptive – correlational, and was conducted on 270 nurses working in intensive care units of teaching hospitals affiliated to Tehran University of Medical Sciences, who had been selected by simple randomized method. Data collection tools included demographic information form, Healthy Work Environment (AACN, 2005), Minnesota job satisfaction questionnaire and Anticipated Turnover Scale, ATS, to determine Intention to leave. Data analysis was done in SPSS-16 software using Pearson correlation, ANOVA, Chi-square and linear regression tests. Results: Healthy Work Environment had a significant and positive relationship with job satisfaction (r = 0.831, p <0.001), and a significant but inverse relationship with intention to leave (r = -0.558, p <0.001). Marital status had the greatest correlation with job satisfaction and Healthy Work Environment (β = 0.25, p = 0.01), as well as intention to leave job (p <0.001, β = 0.223). Conclusion: Given that healthier workplace is associated with higher job satisfaction and less tendency to quit job, managers can adopt appropriate strategies to improve the health of workplace in intensive care units, and promote job satisfaction and reduce the intention of nurses to leave their job.