Factors affecting Iranian nurses’ intention to leave or stay in the profession during the COVID‐19 pandemic

Abstract

Aim

This study was conducted to explore the factors affecting nurses’ intentions to leave or stay in their profession during the coronavirus pandemic in Iran.

Introduction

Because the effectiveness of a healthcare response to a disaster depends on an available, skilled, and motivated healthcare workforce, it is essential to understand and address potential barriers to and reasons for the intentions of medical staff to leave or stay in their profession.

Methods

A qualitative study with a conventional content analysis approach was conducted. The participants included nurses working in hospitals during the COVID‐19 pandemic, and nurses who had previously left their job or had been absent from work for a period of time. The participants were selected using a purposeful sampling strategy. Data were collected through 19 in‐depth, individual semi‐structured interviews with 16 nurses. The COnsolidated criteria for REporting Qualitative research checklist was used to report the study.

Findings

Three categories; commitment and work conscience (with a subcategory of risk‐taking), fear (with two subcategories of fear of family infection and fear of protective equipment shortages), and organizational factors (with two subcategories of organizational atmosphere of the hospital and motivational factors), emerged from the analysis.

Conclusion

The reasons for quitting a nursing job or to keep working as a nurse during the pandemic include both personal and organizational factors. Commitment and work conscience in pandemic conditions is one of the main factors for keeping nurses in their profession.

Implication for nursing practice and policy

Gaining insight into nurses’ understanding of the situation and perspectives is the key to being able to provide appropriate support and keep them in the workforce. Peer support can play an important role in supporting novice nurses in facing challenges posed by a pandemic and should be improved. Also, programs and strategies need to be planned to improve resilience among nurses and to help them to manage their stress and fear.