Korean J Occup Health Nurs.  2022 Feb;31(1):22-30. 10.5807/kjohn.2022.31.1.22.

Effect of Nursing Work Environment on Turnover Intention of Nurses in Long-Term Care Hospitals: The Mediating Effect of COVID-19 Stress

• Lee EJ
• Cheon SY
• Lee JH

• KMID: 2537008
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5807/kjohn.2022.31.1.22

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the mediating effect of Psychological stress of COVID-19 stress on the relationship between nursing work environment and turnover intention of nurses in long-term care hospitals.
Methods
The participants were 176 nurses working at three long-term care hospitals in Changwon City. Data were collected from August 11 to 14, 2021, using self-report questionnaires. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficients, and hierarchical regression, using the SPSS 23.0 software. A mediation analysis was performed according to the Baron and Kenny’s test, and Sobel test.
Results
Turnover intention was positively correlated with Psychological stress of COVID-19 stress (r=.23, p=.002) and negatively correlated with nursing work environment (r=-.44, p<.001). Psychological stress of COVID-19 stress had a significantly negative relationship with nursing work environment (r=-.15, p=.045). Psychological stress of COVID-19 stress partially mediated the relationship between nursing work environment and turnover intention.
Conclusion
The findings of this study indicate that a positive nursing work environment can help nurses reduce their Psychological stress of COVID-19 stress and turnover intention. To reduce the turnover intention among nurses’ in long-term care, it is necessary to promote better work environments suitable for COVID-19 and to establish detailed strategies for reducing their physiological stress.

Keyword

COVID-19; Stress; Nurse; Turnover; Work environment