Turnover Rates and Factors Associated With Turnover: A Longitudinal Analysis of the Retention Period of Clinical Nurses in Korea Using National Data

Many countries, including Korea, are struggling with a nursing workforce shortage. This study aimed to identify the actual turnover rate of Korean clinical nurses and the factors affecting the turnover rate, considering the time required for nurses to gain experience at their current medical institution. This longitudinal study followed up on a cohort consisting of all 107,682 nurses from January 1, 2017 to July 30, 2020. Differences in the distribution of retention and turnover according to the medical institutions’ and nurses’ characteristics were analyzed using the chi-square test. The hazard ratios (HRs) for turnover in each analysis interval were analyzed using multilevel Cox proportional-hazards analysis. The mean turnover rate was 10.0% within 1 year and 33.4% within 3.5 years. Several organizational characteristics (the type and ownership of the hospital, its location, and the bed-to-nurse ratio) and individual characteristics (gender, age, and clinical experience) were found to be associated with turnover risk. Among these factors, compared to hospitals with a bed-to-nurse ratio in general wards of 6.0 or more, those with a ratio of 3.5–3.9 had an HR for 1-year turnover of 0.81 (95% confidence interval CI = 0.67–0.98), and those with a ratio of 2.5–2.9 had an HR for 3.5-year turnover of 0.77 (95% CI = 0.66–0.90). The bed-to-nurse ratio is a condition that can be modified through collaboration between government policy-makers and medical institutions. To reduce nurse turnover and retain experienced nurses, appropriate staffing should be implemented.