Joumal of Advanced Nursmg, 1992,17,1455-1459 Lack of professional latitude and role problems as correlates of propensity to quit amongst nursing staff SL Dolan PhD Professor and Director M R Van Amenngen PhD Vistttng Professor S CorbuiMSc Research Asststant and A ArsenaultMD Associate Professor, Centre for Occupational Stress and Health, School of lndustnal Relattons, The Untverstty of Montreal, Quebec, Canada Accepted for publication 30 March 1992 DOLAN S L, VAN AMERINGEN M R, CORBIN S & ARSENAULT A (1992) Joumal of Advanced Nurstng 17,1455-1459 Lack of professional latitude and role problems as correlates of propensity to quit amongst nursing staff Which job stressors are the best predictors of propensity to quit among the nursmg stafiF in emergency wards and mtensive care units are explored m this paper Employees of 30 Quebec hospitals (l e 60 wards m total) partiapated m the study (« = 1237) Stepwise multiple regression revealed that lack of professional latitude and role problems are the best predictors of the mtention to quit the organization among all nursmg stafif These two job stressors are bnefly addressed m the context of mtervention and possible remedies aiming at improvmg quality of life, mental health and decreasmg the rate of tumover It is argued that such intervention would benefit the nurses, the quabty of patient care, as well as the respective hospitals INTRODUCTION If the general trend for high tumover amongst nurses In the late 1970s, the nahonal average himover rate for appears to be problemahc the shortage of sblled nurses m the registered nurses m the USA was estmiated to be around '"^^"''^^ "^ "™^' ^ emergency wards is alamung In 35% (Weisman 1982) This expenence is quite mdicahve of '^^* y^^' ^ "'"^ ^"* S ^ ° ^ 8 ^°^y °^ ^^"^^^ has cnhcal shortages that are bemg reported by hospitals m evolvedconcemmgthephysiologicalefifectsofmtensivecare many other countnes (Broughton 1986, Bilodeau et al "™*' ^*^ emergency wards on employees Among the most 1987)Wh,lemanyagreethatth.sphenomenonisapproach- "oh^eable effects are bumout (Constable &Russel 1986) and mg an epidemic proportion, controversy exists regarding depression (Firth et al 1987) These behaviours have a sub- the causes and remedies attnbuted to this phenomenon ^"^"* ""P^^ °" ^^ ''"^^ °^ P^^^"* ^ (Presthold et al 1987) and on nurses' tumover (McCranie et al 1987) Correspondence Pn^essor S L Dolan Director, Centre for Occupahonal Stress and r LL I_ tU U U I_ . HeaUk School of Industrial Relatums, Umpersity of Montreal Case postak 6128. ^°^ * ^« Orgamzahons the high nursmg himover rate Succursale A Montreal (^4d>ecH3C 3/7 Canada has become very costly One study has estimated that the 1455