Influence of headaches on nurse intentions to leave the profession and the hospital: a cross-sectional survey

Contemp Nurse. 2020 Apr;56(2):160-170. doi: 10.1080/10376178.2020.1782239. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

Abstract

Background: Few studies had examined whether headaches impact emotional exhaustion among nurses, and nurses' intentions to leave the hospital (current employer) or nursing profession. Objectives/Aims/Hypotheses: To examine the impact of headaches on nurses' self-efficacy and emotional exhaustion, and nurses' intentions to leave the hospital or the profession. Design: A cross-sectional survey design with proportional random sampling was used to collect data. Methods: This study was conducted in one medical center in Taiwan during February and March 2017. Inclusion criteria were full-time registered nurses. Totally, 570 full-time registered nurses were surveyed. Results: Nurse headaches were positively related to emotional exhaustion, which was positively related to the intention to leave the hospital, further positively related to the intention to leave the profession. Self-efficacy was negatively related to the intention to leave the profession. Impact statement and Conclusions: Our findings advise nurse managers to take actions to reduce nurses' headaches.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Headache / physiopathology*
  • Headache / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Job Satisfaction*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nursing Care / psychology*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / psychology*
  • Nursing Staff, Hospital / statistics & numerical data*
  • Occupational Stress
  • Personnel Turnover / statistics & numerical data*
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Taiwan