Work-related stress and intention to quit in newly graduated nurses

Investigating work-related stress among recent nursing graduates and identifying factors that influence their stress levels, as well as their intention to resign from their employment indicates that junior RNs and BSN graduates are more likely to experience stress.

Abstract

Hospitals are fast paced health care environments that currently staff with Registered Nurse (RN) workforce comprised of more than 10% new graduate nurses. Past research has indicated that newly graduated nurses encounter stressful challenges transitioning from student (graduate) to the professional RN in the workforce. This issue must be given unabated priority, because loss of the new graduate has financial and patient safety implications. The purpose of this research study was to investigate work-related stress among recent nursing graduates and identify factors that influence their stress levels, as well as their intention to resign from their employment. Potential factors include gender, program type, work unit and duration, graduation time, and orientation. The study results indicate that junior RNs and BSN graduates are more likely to experience stress. Of all the stressors identified, equipment issues was the only factor that correlated both statistically and significantly to the participants' intention to quit. By investigating specific work-related stressors and coping strategies that these newly graduated nurses experience, this research may provide important information to better prepare and support future nursing students successfully transitioned to practice.