Emergency nursing workforce, burnout, and job turnover in the united states: a national sample survey analysis

Introduction: Few studies have examined emergency nurses who have left their job to better understand the reason behind job turnover. It also remains unclear whether emer-gency nurses differ from other nurses regarding burnout and job turnover reasons. Our study aimed to test differences in reasons for turnover or not currently working between emer-gency nurses and other nurses; and ascertain factors associ-ated with burnout as a reason for turnover among emergency nurses. Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of 2018 Na-tional Sample Survey for Registered Nurses data (weighted N = 3,004,589) from Health Resources and Services Adminis-tration. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square and t -test, and unadjusted and adjusted logistic regres-sion applying design sampling weights. Results: There were no significant differences in burnout comparing emergency nurses with other nurses. Seven job turnover reasons were endorsed by emergency nurses and were significantly higher than other nurses: insufficient staff-ing (11.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 8.6-14.2, P = .01), physical demands (5.1%, 95% CI 3.4-7.6, P = .44), patient pop-ulation (4.3%, 95% CI 2.9-6.3, P < .001), better pay elsewhere (11.5%, 95% CI 9-14.7, P < .001), career advancement/promo-tion (9.6%, 95% CI 7.0-13.2, P = .01), length of commute (5.1%, 95% CI 3.4-7.5, P = .01), and relocation (5%, 95% CI 3.6-7.0, P = .01). Increasing age and increased years since nursing licensure was associated with decreased odds of burnout. Discussion: Several modifiable factors appear associated with job turnover. Interventions and future research should account for unit-specific factors that may precipitate nursing job turnover.