Predictors of public health nurses' intentions to leave their jobs

Purpose: An adequate public health nursing workforce is essential to national emergency preparedness and health preservation. Yet, there are growing concerns regarding job satisfaction and retention among public health nurses. This externally funded study: (1) investigated the prevalence of burnout, job dissatisfaction, and intent-to-leave among public health nurses, (2) identified predictors of intent-to-leave and (3) estimated a model of job satisfaction for nurses in public health. Theoretical Framework: Herzberg's Theory of Job Satisfaction, Maslach's Theory of Burnout, and Lake's Model of Nurse Turnover informed this study. Methods: Data for this descriptive correlational study were collected by surveying 50% of all licensed nurses in New Jersey. A 51% response rate produced a sample of 25,668 nurses of which 339 practiced in public health. Surveys contained the Maslach Burnout Inventory to measure burnout, and items measuring work environment, nurse satisfaction with various aspects of their jobs, and intent-to-leave their jobs within the year. Logistic and linear regressions were used to analyze data. Findings: Overall, 13% of all public health nurses were planning to leave their jobs. A total of 14.3% of public health nurses had burnout scores above the published norms for medical personnel; these nurses were 3 times as likely to indicate an intent-to-leave. Compared to nurses satisfied with their jobs, dissatisfied nurses were 5 times as likely to have intentions to leave. Lastly, a model predicting job satisfaction was estimated, explaining 57% of the variance in satisfaction. Conclusions: Health departments need to develop evidence-based policies to create and maintain working conditions that enhance the job satisfaction and retention of public health nurses.