Factors influencing turnover intention among male nurses in China: A large‐scale descriptive correlational study

Aim This study examined the correlation among turnover intention, emotional intelligence and job burnout in male nurses and determined its influencing factors. Background The number of male nurses has increased in China; however, the turnover rate is very high. Nurses’ turnover intention is related to job burnout and emotional intelligence. Introduction Recent studies have shown that job burnout and emotional intelligence are related to medical and health institution employees’ intention to leave their jobs. It is not clear if the same conclusions can be drawn about male nurses. Methods For this cross‐sectional study, 627 male nurses were recruited from across China between May and July 2018. Data were collected through an online questionnaire, and Pearson's product‐moment correlation coefficient and multiple linear regression were performed to analyse the data. Results There was a weak negative, moderate positive and moderate negative correlation between turnover intention and emotional intelligence, turnover intention and job burnout, and emotional intelligence and job burnout, respectively. Factors that significantly affected turnover intention among male nurses included job burnout, young age, lack of interest in nursing and working in the emergency department. Conclusion The study revealed the factors that affected male nurses’ turnover intention and the relationships between turnover intention, emotional intelligence and job burnout. Implications for Nursing Management and Social Policy Hospital managers should provide necessary help and support to reduce male nurse turnover rates and incorporate emotional intelligence training. The policy should eliminate the unfair college admission practices for students choosing nursing majors, raise the nursing profession's salaries and vigorously develop specialty nursing. In addition, diversified values should be promoted, and stereotypes of male nurses in nursing should be broken.