Why Do They Stay? Intention to Stay among Registered Nurses in Nursing Homes

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the factors associated with nursing home (NH) registered nurses’ (RNs’) intention to stay in their workplace. Methods: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was used in this study. Organizational NH data were acquired from the administrators of 56 NHs. Individual RN data were acquired from 189 RNs in 56 NHs across Korea. The questionnaire assessed RNs’ intention to stay in their workplace as well as potential associated factors, including individual and organizational factors. Multilevel regression analysis was used to determine which factors explain RNs’ intention to stay in their workplace. Findings: NH RNs’ intention to stay was positively associated with RNs’ years of experience in NHs, career promotion opportunities, and perceptions of NH resident safety culture. At the organizational level, no factors were found to significantly relate to the intention to stay of NH RNs. Conclusions: Although this study found that organizational factors have no statistically significant relationship with RNs’ intention to stay, organizational support must precede changes in individual factors that have significant relationships. Clinical Relevance: Organizational (NH) and individual (RN) efforts must be made to enhance RNs’ intention to stay because individual factors can change after implementing efforts such as providing educational programs, promotional opportunities, and forming a positive resident safety culture at an organizational level.