gms | German Medical Science

Background/research question: The shortage of nurses has been an ongoing issue for many decades and is challenging healthcare systems' capacity, patient care and quality of care globally. Although the lack of healthcare professionals affects all professions and medical departments, the shortage of nurses in intensive care units (ICU) is particularly problematic due to the increased nurse-to-patient ratio and the need for specialized nursing skills. An important factor contributing to this shortage is voluntary turnover [1]. Especially in intensive care units with high workloads, high mortality rates and stressful working conditions, this phenomenon has severe consequences for employees and patients [2]. Previous research has focused on quantitative cross-sectional studies where the authors identified a correlation between various individual and organizational variables and the intention to leave [3]. Although researchers have been studying turnover intentions for decades, qualitative research and analysis of health policy approaches on intensive and critical care nurses' intention to leave and stay are scarce.

This dissertation project aims to contribute to nursing turnover research by examining the phenomenon of staff turnover and retention in intensive care units in publicly owned hospitals from different perspectives (micro, meso and macro levels).

Methods: Thus, the author begins with a systematic literature review to illuminate the organizational level. Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the individual perspectives of former intensive care nurses with regard to their exit will be investigated. In parallel, intensive care nurses are asked about their reasons for staying in the intensive care unit, following the same interpretative research approach. However, as the problem of turnover intention and actual turnover in public hospitals is also a problem of health policy, initiatives of the level of health policy will be analysed.

Preliminary/expected results, outlook: The results of this dissertation will contribute to a better understanding of the factors influencing critical care nurses' intention to leave or stay, as well as approaches and strategies to strengthen the retention of these highly skilled nurses.

Competing interests: The author declares that there is no conflict of interest.