What motivates critical care nurses to stay in their job? A scoping review protocol

Abstract Objective The aim of this scoping review (Registration https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/28NKU) is to understand the extrinsic and intrinsic factors that motivate critical care nurses to stay in their job. Introduction Previous reviews failed to consider both critical care nurses who stay in their job as well as other critical care nurses who have already left the job or switched from critical care to another medical discipline. Moreover, the literature mainly discusses extrinsic factors that lead to job attrition and turnover, but misses out to exemplify intrinsic factors and to put both in relation to one another. Inclusion criteria The inclusion criteria will be described by applying the PCC-framework (Population, Context, Concept). The population is limited to fully qualified critical care nurses who currently work or have been working in the field of critical and emergency care. The context is defined within critical care (intensive care units and emergency care in hospitals). Other contexts (e. g., common surgical wards, palliative care) are excluded. The concept is the personal motivation concerning professional engagement. Methods Eleven databases and grey literature from 2015–2023 will be searched. We will apply a two-stage screening process by at least two independent reviewers. First, titles and abstracts will be scanned. In a further step, relevant articles will receive a full-text review. Finally, the research team (approx. 5–6 persons) will discuss the extracted data independently. Ethics and Dissemination Ethical approval is not required for scoping reviews. Dissemination will include submission to peer-reviewed journals and presentations in conferences and workshops in the area of critical care.