Factors Predicting Intention to Leave of Nurse Educators

Abstract

Purpose: To identify predicting factors of intention to leave among nurse educators.Design: Descriptive correlational research.Methods: Subjects were 390 nurse educators of Faculty of Nursing, Mahidol University and 9 affiliate institutes who have worked at present organizations for one year or more. Instrument used was a questionnaire composed of two parts: 1) demographic data and intention to leave, 21 items, and 2) five factors affecting intention to leave: job characteristics, organizational climate, organizational commitment, quality of life, and organizational culture, 118 items. Descriptive statistic and multiple regression were used for data analyses.Main findings: More than half of nurse educators (55.64%) had intention to leave the present job within 1 year and 66.60% had intention to leave within 3 years but the intentions were at middle level, 43.61% and 50.45% consecutively. Scores of job characteristics (X = 4.28, SD = 0.45), organizational commitment (X = 3.95, SD = 0.61), quality of life (X = 3.58, SD = 0.56), and organizational culture (X = 3.53, SD = 0,47) were at high level. Organizational climate score was at middle level (X = 3.30, SD = 0.62). Results from stepwise analysis revealed only three predicting factors of intention to leave among nurse educators. Organizational culture, organizational commitment and doctorate explained 12.2% of intention to leave within 1 year and organizational commitment and doctorate explained 14.3% of intention to leave within 3 years.Conclusion and recommendations: Implementing strategies to increase organizational commitment, helping nurse educators for fast adaptation in an organization and create good environment and good facilities are recommended to decrease intention to leave among nurse educators.