Effect of workplace violence on the intention of leave a nursing career

Abstract

          The nursing shortage is a worldwide problem, while effects of workplace violence on intention to leave a nursing career are less clear. This study aimed to examine the relationship between workplace violence and intention to leave a nursing career among registered nurses in Thailand using the data from Thai Nurse Cohort Study conducted in 2010. Data were collected by mailed questionnaires. It was found that 3.8% (95% CI = 3.54%-4.46%) out of 16,814 registered nurses were intended to leave a nursing career within 1-2 years, while 13.6% (95% CI = 13.06% - 14.14%) were intended to leave within 1-2 years or later. Multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that all types of workplace violence and non-physical workplace violence during the previous 12 months were associated with a higher risk of intention to leave a nursing career, where values of OR = 1.48 at 95% CI = 1.09-2.01; p-value = 0.012, and OR = 1.48 at 95% CI = 1.08-2.02; p-value = 0.014, respectively. After redefining intention to leave a nursing career to either within 1-2 years of later, both workplace violence and workplace violence with job absence remained as significant predictors, where values of OR = 1.58 at 95% CI = 1.35-1.86; p-value < 0.001, and OR = 1.98; 95% CI = 1.22-3.22; p-value = 0.006, respectively. It was concluded that workplace violence was associated with an increased rate of intention to leave a nursing career. An attention should be paid to the improvement of their work environments in order to reduce violence and nursing turnover resulted in to retain nurses.