FACTORS INFLUENCING INTENTIONS OF NURSING PERSONNEL TO LEAVE EMPLOYMENT IN LONG-TERM-CARE SETTINGS

This study examines factors associated with the intentions of nurses t o leave their present employment in a long-term care (LTC) setting. Th e study examines differences in the personal characteristics, job-spec ific characteristics, job satisfaction, and perceived job mobility of two groups of nurses currently employed in LTC facilities; those who r eport that they intend to stay at the nursing home where they are empl oyed (n = 147) and those who intend to leave (n = 45). Nearly half of the factors that were examined (9 of 20) were statistically significan tly associated with nurses' self-reports of their intention to leave. Of the significant associations, seven were job-specific characteristi cs or dimensions of job satisfaction. The implications of these findin gs are that a significant majority of the factors that influence a nur se's intention to leave may be within the realm of control of nurse ex ecutives and nursing home administrators. Results are discussed within the context of three general areas where there may be opportunities f or managers to take actions that will improve retention.