Tertiary Hospital ED Turnover: The Key Drivers

INTRODUCTION Worldwide, emergency department (ED) patient and disease burden is expected to increase over time, escalating the growing demand for healthcare workers (HCWs). In South Africa these challenges are compounded by a lack of resources and lower staff-to-patient ratios compared to developed countries.(1) The increased workload, overcrowding, staff shortages and resource constraints in the ED, can lead to workrelated stress, dissatisfaction and a higher staff turnover. (2–4) This creates additional costs for recruitment, training and employing temporary staff, thus negatively impacting patient outcome and satisfaction.(4) The South African research priorities for 2021–2024 include the need for research on HCW dissatisfaction, burnout, and the retention of staff.(5) The aim of this research was to determine the levels of burnout, job satisfaction, and the intention to leave among ED HCWs and to explore the reasons for employee resignation.