Turnover of new graduate nurses in their first job using survival analysis

Abstract

Purpose: To examine factors related to turnover of new graduate nurses in their first job.

Design: Data were obtained from a 3-year panel survey (2006-2008) of the Graduates Occupational Mobility Survey that followed-up college graduates in South Korea. The sample consisted of 351 new graduates whose first job was as a full-time registered nurse in a hospital.

Methods: Survival analysis was conducted to estimate survival curves and related factors, including individual and family, nursing education, hospital, and job dissatisfaction (overall and 10 specific job aspects).

Findings: The estimated probabilities of staying in their first job for 1, 2, and 3 years were 0.823, 0.666, and 0.537, respectively. Nurses reporting overall job dissatisfaction had significantly lower survival probabilities than those who reported themselves to be either neutral or satisfied. Nurses were more likely to leave if they were married or worked in small (vs. large), nonmetropolitan, and nonunionized hospitals. Dissatisfaction with interpersonal relationships, work content, and physical work environment was associated with a significant increase in the hazards of leaving the first job.

Conclusions: Hospital characteristics as well as job satisfaction were significantly associated with new graduates' turnover.

Clinical relevance: The high turnover of new graduates could be reduced by improving their job satisfaction, especially with interpersonal relationships, work content, and the physical work environment.