Comparing the Impact of COVID-19 on Nurses’ Turnover Intentions before and during the Pandemic in Qatar

TLDR

Nurses’ turnover intentions have been studied, but the impact of COVID‑19 on these intentions remains underexplored, and understanding such factors is essential for workforce planning during pandemics. The study compares nurses’ turnover intentions before and during COVID‑19. A cross‑sectional survey of 512 nurses from Qatar’s largest healthcare provider used the TIS‑6 between August and September 2020. Among 512 nurses (61.5 % aged 31‑40, 67.6 % female, 76.4 % married, 79.7 % holding a BSN, 43 % with <5 years experience, 60.4 % working in COVID‑19 facilities), turnover intentions were significantly higher during COVID‑19, driven largely by participants’ characteristics and stress levels.

Abstract

Background: Although several studies examining nurses’ turnover intentions have been conducted, few studies have been conducted to explore how COVID-19 contributes to nurses’ turnover intentions. This study aims to compare nurses’ turnover (TO) intentions before and during COVID-19. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted using the Turnover Intention Scale (TIS-6) and a convenience sample of participants from the largest healthcare provider in Qatar between August and September 2020. Results: A total of 512 nurses were included in the final analysis. The majority were between 31 and 40 years of age (61.5%), 67.6% were females, 76.4% were married, 79.7% had a BSN, 43% had less than 5 years of experience, and 60.4% had worked in COVID-19 designated facilities. The turnover intentions were higher compared with before COVID-19 (p &lt; 0.01). Conclusion: Nurses in Qatar have higher TO intentions during COVID-19. The participants’ characteristics and stress levels are playing a major role in nurses’ decision to leave during COVID-19. Understanding the factors that contribute to turnover intentions is crucial for workforce planning, especially during pandemics.