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Volume 22
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10.3390/ijerph22081192
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Article

Associations Between Quality of Nursing Work Life, Work Ability Index and Intention to Leave the Workplace and Profession: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nurses in Croatia

by
Snježana Čukljek
1,2,*,
Janko Babić
3,
Boris Ilić
1,
Slađana Režić
1,4,
Biljana Filipović
1,2,
Jadranka Pavić
1,2,
Ana Marija Švigir
1 and
Martina Smrekar
1
1
Department of Nursing, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
2
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Health Studies, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia
3
Department of Health Psychology, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
4
University Hospital Centre Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(8), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081192
Submission received: 27 May 2025 / Revised: 22 July 2025 / Accepted: 28 July 2025 / Published: 30 July 2025
Versions Notes

Abstract

Introduction: Nurses are the largest group of healthcare workers, and healthcare managers should pay attention to the quality of work life and the health and working capacity of nurses in order to ensure a sufficient number of nurses and a stable workforce. Aim: The present study aimed to determine nurses’ quality of work life, work ability index and intention to leave the nursing profession and to examine the associations between nurses’ quality of work life, work ability index and intention to leave the nursing profession. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 498 nurses completed the instrument, consisting of demographic data, Brooks’ Quality of Nursing Work Life Survey (BQNWL), Work Ability Index Questionnaire (WAIQ) and questions on their intention to leave their current job or the nursing profession. Results: Most nurses had a moderate quality of work life (QWL) (73.7%) and a good work ability index (WAI) (43.78%). Men (p = 0.047), nurses who study (p = 0.021), nurses who do not have children (p = 0.000) and nurses who do not take care of their parents (p = 0.000) have a statistically significantly higher total WAIQ score. Most nurses (61.1%) had considered changing jobs in the last 12 months, and 36.9% had considered leaving the nursing profession. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the total BQNWL and the total WAI. The study found no correlation between QWL, WAI and intention to change jobs or leave the profession, which was unexpected. Conclusions: To ensure the provision of necessary nursing care and a healthy working environment for nurses, it is necessary to regularly monitor QWL and WAI and take measures to ensure the highest quality of working life. Further longitudinal and mixed-methods research is needed to understand the relationship between QWL, WAI and intention to leave.
Keywords: nurse; work ability; quality of work life; intention to leave nurse; work ability; quality of work life; intention to leave

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MDPI and ACS Style

Čukljek, S.; Babić, J.; Ilić, B.; Režić, S.; Filipović, B.; Pavić, J.; Švigir, A.M.; Smrekar, M. Associations Between Quality of Nursing Work Life, Work Ability Index and Intention to Leave the Workplace and Profession: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nurses in Croatia. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22, 1192. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081192

AMA Style

Čukljek S, Babić J, Ilić B, Režić S, Filipović B, Pavić J, Švigir AM, Smrekar M. Associations Between Quality of Nursing Work Life, Work Ability Index and Intention to Leave the Workplace and Profession: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nurses in Croatia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2025; 22(8):1192. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081192

Chicago/Turabian Style

Čukljek, Snježana, Janko Babić, Boris Ilić, Slađana Režić, Biljana Filipović, Jadranka Pavić, Ana Marija Švigir, and Martina Smrekar. 2025. "Associations Between Quality of Nursing Work Life, Work Ability Index and Intention to Leave the Workplace and Profession: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nurses in Croatia" International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 22, no. 8: 1192. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081192

APA Style

Čukljek, S., Babić, J., Ilić, B., Režić, S., Filipović, B., Pavić, J., Švigir, A. M., & Smrekar, M. (2025). Associations Between Quality of Nursing Work Life, Work Ability Index and Intention to Leave the Workplace and Profession: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nurses in Croatia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 22(8), 1192. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081192

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