Abstract
ObjectiveThe objective of this research was to explore the lived experiences of long-term care facilities’ staff during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine if and how the pandemic played a role in their decision to leave their jobs.DesignQualitative study using thematic analysis of semistructured interviews. Interview transcripts were analysed using coding techniques based in grounded theory.ParticipantsA total of 29 staff with various roles across 21 long-term care facilities in 12 states were interviewed.ResultsThe pandemic influenced the staff’s decision to leave their jobs in five different ways, namely: (1) It significantly increased the workload; (2) Created more physical and emotional hazards for staff; (3) Constrained the facilities and their staff financially; (4) Deteriorated morale and job satisfaction among the staff and (5) Increased concerns with upper management’s commitment to both general and COVID-19-specific procedures.ConclusionsStaff at long-term care facilities discussed a wide variety of reasons for their decision to quit their jobs during the pandemic. Our findings may inform efforts to reduce the rate of turnover in these facilities.