Abstract

POEIRA, Ana  and  MAMEDE, Ricardo Paes. The main determinants of nursing turnover: contractual obligation, wage benefits or professional recognition. Rev. Enf. Ref. [online]. 2011, vol.serIII, n.4, pp.107-114. ISSN 0874-0283.

In recent years healthcare organizations in Portugal, as well as the nursing profession and career, have gone through a number of structural, procedural and political changes. These changes have influenced the dynamics and stability of nurses’ future contributing to high turnover rates. This has had a negative impact both in the work group and the organization itself. The goal of this study is to identify the main factors behind the external turnover of nurses. The research is based on a questionnaire administered to a sample of 772 nurses working at the Hospital of Santa Maria. The study hypotheses were analyzed using non-parametric tests. The results show that willingness to acquire new professional skills and to perform more challenging tasks are two relevant determinants of turnover among nurses. Contractual and salary factors are also very important in explaining this phenomenon, especially, among nurses who do not have a permanent contract.

Keywords : organization and administration; human resources; nursing.

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