Heterogeneity of career success and its relationship with turnover intention among nurses: A cross-sectional study using latent profile analysis

This study examines the diverse profiles of career success among nurses, identify demographic factors associated with each profile, and analyze the relationship between these profiles and turnover intention. A cross-sectional study was conducted involving 2322 nurses. Data were collected in March 2024 using an electronic survey that included scales for measuring career success and turnover intention. Latent profile analysis was used to classify nurses based on career satisfaction, intra-organizational competitiveness, and extra-organizational competitiveness. Logistic regression identified factors influencing career success profiles, and hierarchical regression assessed the relationship between these profiles and turnover intention. Nurses were categorized into 4 profiles “low career success” (20.51%), “moderate career success” (50.78%), “high satisfaction–low competitiveness” (12.49%), and “high career success” group (16.19%). Nurses satisfied with their income and those who had participated in career training were more likely to be in the high career success profile ( P < .05). Conversely, nurses with more than 15 working years and holding a junior title were less likely to be in the high career success profile ( P <.05). After adjusting for demographic variables, career success profiles significantly predicted turnover intention ( P < .05). Career success among nurses is heterogeneous and can be classified into 4 distinct profiles, each with implications for turnover intention.