Relationship between burnout and intention to leave amongst clinical nurses: The role of spiritual climate

Abstract

Aim This study aims to identify the role that spiritual climate has in reducing burnout and intentions to leave amongst clinical nurses. Background Both shortages and the high turnover of nurses are challenging problems worldwide. Enhancing the spiritual climate amongst nurses can enhance teamwork, organisational commitment and job satisfaction and can play a role in reducing burnout and turnover intention. Methods A total of 207 clinical nurses working at a tertiary university hospital were included in this cross-sectional, single-site study. Independent-samples t test and ANOVA, Pearson correlation analysis and hierarchical regression analysis were used to explore the relationships amongst related factors. Results Most clinical departments showed a moderate spiritual climate (60.24 ± 0.82) with high job burnout (33.62 ± 0.28) and turnover intention (2.37 ± 0.57). A good spiritual climate was correlated with high job satisfaction (r = 0.412, p < 0.01), low burnout and turnover intention (r = −0.423, p < 0.01 and r = −0.292, p < 0.01, respectively). Spiritual climate could also indirectly influence nurses' job burnout and turnover intention (R2 = 10.31%). Conclusions Different departments have different spiritual climates. The findings from this study indicate that spiritual climate may impact nursing burnout and turnover. Implications for nursing management Using a spiritual climate scale provides health care decision-makers with clear information about staff spirituality well-being. Interventions to improve spiritual climate can benefit teamwork in clinical departments.