Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis on Turnover Intention Among Nurses in Emergency Departments in Thailand: A Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Abstract Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic in Thailand, a large volume of COVID-19 patients was referred to hospital emergency departments (EDs). This increased job demand and job strain among ED nurses, resulting in a high risk for intention to leave their organization. This study had two aims: 1) to investigate turnover intention during the COVID-19 pandemic among ED nurses; and 2) examine the effect of organization resources, maladaptive regulation, and job burnout on nurses’ turnover intention. Method: This cross sectional study investigated 322 ED nurses. We divided participants into two groups: dark-red zone areas (pandemic crisis areas) and non-red zone areas (non-pandemic crisis areas). Descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple linear regression (stepwise method) were used to analyze factors that predicted turnover intention. Results: Most participants were female and the mean age was 34.54 years. Overall, the mean score for the Turnover Intention Scale was 18.27±4.69 and 72.8% of ED nurses in dark-red zone areas desired to leave their organization. During the pandemic, motivation, exhaustion, and cognitive impairment positively influenced turnover intention among ED nurses in dark-red zone areas. Low availability of organization resources was associated with an increase in the turnover intention rate. Maladaptive regulation, exhaustion, and cognitive impairment positively influenced turnover intention among ED nurses in non-red zone areas. Conclusion: Exhaustion and cognitive impairment are important dimensions of burnout that are associated with turnover intention among ED nurses. We suggest that promoting safe workplace environments and implementing interventions to reduce job demand and job strain for ED nurses may reduce turnover intention.