Factors Influencing Nurse Turnover in Selected Hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the factors influencing nurse turnover and identify the main problems faced by nurses in selected hospitals in Kabul, Afghanistan.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and 550 nurses from seven government hospitals, in seven clusters of Kabul Province, were chosen randomly. Data were collected using a questionnaire that consisted of 40 items categorized into seven parts: Demographic characteristics, intention to leave nursing profession, job satisfaction, manager support, interaction with colleagues, salary, and work environment. Finally, SPSS 22 software was used to analyze the data.

Results: Of the 550 nurses, 272 (49.5%) intended to leave their current profession and 295 (53.6%) were dissatisfied with their job. Further, 149 (27.1%) nurses were graduate or current students in medical college. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between intention to leave and job satisfaction (rs = −0.292), constructive feedback from manager (rs = −0.138), salary (rs = −0.067), medical insurance (rs = −0.052), and growth opportunity (rs = −0.042), (P ˂ 0.05). Their main problems were ventilation (54.9%), equipment, and sterilization at the workplace (81.3%), work pressure (90.7%), and doctors’ misbehavior (34.4%).

Conclusion: The study showed that about a half of the nurses were dissatisfied and intended to leave their current profession. Increases in salary and benefits, respect for nursing, reduction in work pressure, provision of health insurance, positive encouragement, and opportunities for advancement could improve nurse retention and job satisfaction.