Assessing the relationship between nurse's quality of work life and their intention to leave the nursing profession

Intention to leave in profession and quality of work life are themes that they are dependent to social contex. So; assessing changes in individual quality of work life (QWL) are necessary which they are related with multiple occupational outcomes such as job satisfaction and commitment، and could be suitable predictor for nurses’ retention in their job. This study was done for assessing the relationship between nurses’ quality of work life and their intention to leave the nursing profession. This descriptive-analytical study was done in 2011 that 167 nurses participated who were selected randomly from Gorgon’s educational and therapeutic centers. Persian version of quality of work-life and intent to leave of nursing profession questionnaires were used for data gathering. Interna consistency reliability (Cronbach’s alpha) was (α =0. 71) for quality of work-life questionair and for intent to leave of nursing profession questionnaire by use test and re- test was 0. 67. Data analysis was done in SPSS16 software with Pearson correlation، one way ANOVA and logestic regression. Data analysing showed that 61. 3% nurses had score greater than mean (47. 7±9. 21) in quality of work life scale. 12. 7% of nurses had very undesirable quality of work life and 28. 2% were in undesirable level. 42. 5% of nurses were reported their quality of work life in desirable and 16. 9% were in very desirable level. Quality of work life had significant correlation with intent to leave of nursing profession (r=0. 362، P=0. 000). 47. 8% of nurses had no intention to leave of their profession and others had some degree of intention to leave. 21. 4% of nurses had high intention to leave of nursing profession. Work experiences in nursing had direct and significant correlation with intent to leave of nursing profession (r=0. 242، P=0. 003). Improving nursing quality of work life could be reduce the rate of intent to leave of nursing profession، but it is not suitable predictor for retaining in nursing because of lack of oppourtunity of employment in our society.