Predictors of Male Nurses’ Intention to Stay in Emergency Department and Intensive Care Unit: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

The male nurse plays a vital role in clinical nursing, especially in the emergency department and intensive care unit; however, the turnover rate of nurses working in these areas is higher than other units, adding to nursing shortages. Thus, male nurses’ intention to stay in the emergency department and intensive care unit is crucial for hospitals and health systems. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to identify the predicting factors of intention to stay among 240 male nurses in the emergency department and intensive care unit of five hospitals in China. The research instruments used to obtain the data were the Demographic Data Profile, McCain’s Intention to Stay Scale, the Leadership Practices Inventory, the Career Growth of Nurse Scale, the Group Cohesion Scale, the Three-Component Model Employee Commitment Survey, and the McCloskey/Mueller Satisfaction Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The results indicated that the intention to stay of male nurses in the emergency department and intensive care unit was at a moderate level. Career growth was the strongest predictor followed by job satisfaction and transformational leadership, and these three predictors could predict intention to stay, accounting for 54.3% of the variance. Nurse administrators can use the results to develop appropriate strategies to retain male nurses in the emergency department and intensive care unit including supporting their career growth, improving job satisfaction, and promoting transformational leadership among male nurses.