Motivation, Organizational Commitment and Quality of Work Life on Turnover Intentions of Professional Nurses at Private Hospitals in Lower Northern Region

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate 1) personal factors, work motivation factors, commitment to the organization, and quality of work life of nurses, 2) the level of turnover intentions of professional nurses, and 3) factors affecting the turnover intentions of professional nurses at private hospitals on the lower northern region of Thailand.

This study used a cross-sectional survey design. The population consisted of 1,560 professional nurses in private hospitals in the lower northern region of Thailand. The sample size was calculated from a formula to estimate the population means, using a stratified sampling technique resulting in a sample size of 369 with 359 complete questionnaires returned (97.3%). Data were analyzed and presented using frequencies, percentages, means, standard deviations, and multiple linear regression analysis employing the stepwise method.

The results showed that 1) personal factors: about 90.3% were females, with an average age of 38.35 years (SD=10.48), married (55.4%), with 16.15 years (SD=8.32) of average employment, and an average of 5.50 people (SD=3.21) for number of members in families requiring care. Motivating factors for working were moderate (=2.94, SD=0.18). Organizational commitment was moderate (=2.41, SD=0.22), and the quality of working life was moderate (=2.61, SD=0.26); 2) their turnover intentions were high (=3.68, SD=0.37); and 3) all predictive variables of their turnover intentions were statistically significant in the following: gender, marital status, motivation to work in terms of work, relationships with other people and professional colleagues, quality of life at work in terms of working conditions are safe and promote health and the balance between life and work. The overall coefficient of determination was 29.3% (R2=0.293).