(Burnout Perceptions of Nurses Working in Health Institutions Effect on Intentions to Leave)

Abstract

Purpose – Nurses, who form the largest group among health workers and work with the patient for a long time, are considered as the health workers who are most affected by the negativities in the working environment. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of burnout perceptions of nurses working in health institutions on their intention to leave. Design/methodology/approach – Quantitative research method was used in the study. The data of the study were obtained from 464 nurses who participated in the online survey in Mersin and Adana provinces by chain sampling method. The data collection form consists of the Burnout Scale, the Intention to Leave the Job Scale and demographic questions. Regression and correlation analyzes were performed on the data obtained as a result of the research in SPSS and AMOS programs. Findings – Emotional exhaustion and depersonalization, which are the sub-dimensions of burnout, have a significant and positive effect on the dependent variable of turnover intention; The third dimension, personal achievement, was found to have a significant and negative effect on the dependent variable of turnover intention. In addition, the fact that 38% of the nurses who intend to quit their job have started to think about quitting their job within the last 1 year, it is highly likely that this is related to the intense and wearisome effect of the Covid-19 epidemic process. Discussion – Strategies should be formulated and implemented across the country and in a way that includes all health sector workers, with systematic and sustainable programs far beyond the emotional labor behavior development efforts suggested in previous studies. Comprehensive and longitudinal studies, which will be carried out taking into account many different variables, especially personality traits, will play a key role in hiring health workers, providing and retaining training and development according to the needs of the age.