Chronic fatigue predicts nurse turnover

Editor's Note

This study by nurse researchers at St Joseph Hospital, Orange, California, and California State University, finds that chronic occupational fatigue significantly predicts turnover intentions among nurses.

In a survey completed by 151 nurses:

• Chronic occupational fatigue was the only significant predictor of turnover intentions.
• Burnout components—emotional exhaustion and depersonalization—were strongly associated with, but did not predict turnover.
• High levels of chronic fatigue predicted lower meaning and joy in work and resilience, but did not predict burnout.

The researchers concluded that administrators should focus on factors like chronic occupational fatigue that are likely to affect nurses’ decisions to leave their jobs.