In a survey conducted by AMN Healthcare, a staffing and management agency, researchers found that about one-quarter of nurses have plans to make a job change within the year.
Additionally, the results revealed that job satisfaction among registered nurses (RNs) is about 58 percent, a drop from 66 percent recorded in 2010.
“If nurses change jobs in large numbers – as they say they will in our survey – that may increase nurse vacancy thus putting stress on staffing resources. That, in turn, would impact patient care outcomes,” said AMN spokesperson Ralph Henderson.
A total of 32 percent of nurses surveyed said they planned to either get out of the industry entirely or switch to a less demanding role.
Previous research has shown that healthcare professionals experience significant workplace stress due to long working hours and the pressures of keeping patients healthy.
Results of this survey suggest that many RNs may benefit from employee wellness programs that provide tools and resources for stress management. This may help organizations to retain their valuable, experienced employees who may be close to burnout.
