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. 2023 Jul;49(4):574-585.
doi: 10.1016/j.jen.2022.12.014. Epub 2023 Feb 6.

Emergency Nursing Workforce, Burnout, and Job Turnover in the United States: A National Sample Survey Analysis

Allison A Norful, Kenrick Cato, Bernard P Chang, Taryn Amberson, Jessica Castner

Emergency Nursing Workforce, Burnout, and Job Turnover in the United States: A National Sample Survey Analysis

Allison A Norful et al. J Emerg Nurs. 2023 Jul.

Abstract

Introduction: Few studies have examined emergency nurses who have left their job to better understand the reason behind job turnover. It also remains unclear whether emergency nurses differ from other nurses regarding burnout and job turnover reasons. Our study aimed to test differences in reasons for turnover or not currently working between emergency nurses and other nurses; and ascertain factors associated with burnout as a reason for turnover among emergency nurses.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of 2018 National Sample Survey for Registered Nurses data (weighted N = 3,004,589) from Health Resources and Services Administration. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and t-test, and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression applying design sampling weights.

Results: There were no significant differences in burnout comparing emergency nurses with other nurses. Seven job turnover reasons were endorsed by emergency nurses and were significantly higher than other nurses: insufficient staffing (11.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.6-14.2, P = .01), physical demands (5.1%, 95% CI 3.4-7.6, P = .44), patient population (4.3%, 95% CI 2.9-6.3, P < .001), better pay elsewhere (11.5%, 95% CI 9-14.7, P < .001), career advancement/promotion (9.6%, 95% CI 7.0-13.2, P = .01), length of commute (5.1%, 95% CI 3.4-7.5, P = .01), and relocation (5%, 95% CI 3.6-7.0, P = .01). Increasing age and increased years since nursing licensure was associated with decreased odds of burnout.

Discussion: Several modifiable factors appear associated with job turnover. Interventions and future research should account for unit-specific factors that may precipitate nursing job turnover.

Keywords: Burnout; Emergency nurses; Population Surveillance Survey; Professional; Registered nurses; Workplace.

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Conflict of interest statement

AAN has nothing to disclose; KC reports no conflicts of interest. KC is partly supported by funding from the National Institute for Nursing Research (NINR) grant number 1R01NR016941-01. BPC reports no conflicts of interest. BPC is supported in part by funding from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, grant numbers HL R01 141811, HL R01 146911. TA is an independent contractor supported by the grant NIH/NIMHHD R43MD017188 (PI:Castner) Precision Assessment Algorithm for Reducing Disaster-related Respiratory Health Disparities; JC received travel support from Rockefeller University Heilbrunn Family Center for Research Nursing and the Emergency Nurses Association. JC is the Editor-in Chief of Journal of Emergency Nursing and Owner of Castner Incorporated, a woman-owned small business. This study was supported by Castner Incorporated. A cost pool created by funds from the United States Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program was utilized for salary support at Castner Incorporated to conduct the analysis. JC is a contributing scholar at the National Academy of Medicine Action Collaborative on Clinician Resilience and Well-being.

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