Intención de abandono de la profesión en enfermeras de cuidados intensivos y hospitalización. Asociación con variables psicosociales

Introduction

The intention to leave the health profession has been studied as one of the consequences of the work and emotional overload experienced by nurses during the pandemic. However, few studies have focused on ICU nurses. The studies on intention to leave the profession focus on working conditions and symptomatology, without analyzing the personal characteristics involved.

Objective

To explore the evolution of the intention to leave the profession in ICU nurses (with respect to hospitalization nurses). In addition, to analyze the possible differences in anxiety, burnout and psychosocial variables (self-efficacy, resilience, cognitive fusion) between nurses who intend to quit and those who do not.

Method

Observational, descriptive, longitudinal, prospective study with three data collection periods. Non-probabilistic convenience sampling was performed.

Results

Six months after the end of the confinement period in Spain, higher dropout percentages were observed in ICU (49.2%) than in hospitalization (33.3%) (P = .07). One year later, the percentages of intention to leave tend to be equal (50.8% in ICU and 43.9% in hospitalization) (P = .438). With respect to the differential profile of ICU nurses who intend to leave the profession (compared to those who do not), higher scores were observed in anxiety (P = .037), emotional exhaustion (P < .001), decreased personal fulfilment (P = .031) and cognitive fusion (P = .023).

Conclusion

A high percentage of ICU nurses show intention to leave the profession, and associations were found with the anxiety experienced at the beginning of the pandemic, with high emotional exhaustion and low personal fulfilment. It is important to highlight in our study the relationship between intention to leave the profession and personal variables such as cognitive fusion.