Increasing work pressure is forcing many experienced nurses and midwives to quit their jobs, a union survey finds.

A survey of NSWNMA members in public health suggests more than half intend to leave their current nursing and midwifery positions within the next five years.

The survey of workforce conditions, safety and wellbeing was conducted for the NSWNMA by the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre in mid-2022.

A total of 2305 nurses and midwives responded to the survey.

NSWNMA General Secretary Shaye Candish said the union commissioned the survey out of concern for its members’ health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A further reason was the risk of workers’ rights being neglected or abused due to system pressures aggravated by the pandemic,” she said.

“The current pressure NSW health services are under means there is a significant risk to the occupational and mental health of the health workforce.

“There are indications that a concerningly large number of staff are experiencing symptoms of fatigue, burnout, stress, anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress.”

The survey showed 13.3 per cent of respondents intended to retire in the next five years.

Respondents were also asked when they intended to leave their current position.

A majority – 58.2 per cent – did intend to leave.

Of those who intended to leave their current position, 37.4 per cent planned to do so within the next 12 months.

Of those who intended to leave their current position, 22.2 per cent intended to get out of nursing, 36.3 per cent intended to stay in the profession and 41.4 per cent were undecided.

Over 400 respondents indicated that they had applied for other positions in the past six months. More than a quarter of them had applied for a position in another profession.

A total of 194 respondents were then currently working in a COVID-19 vaccination clinic or screening clinic.

When asked how likely they were to return to the clinical setting, more than half (53.1 per cent) were either “not at all likely” or only “somewhat likely” to do so.

The report noted that nurses working in COVID-19 settings are “potentially highly experienced nurses whose skills and experience would be a loss for current generations of junior nurses and emerging nurse leaders should they not return.”

Incentives to stay

Respondents planning to leave nursing were asked what would incentivise them to stay.

The top three responses were better pay, better workplace supports, and reduced workload.

Factors pushing members to leave the profession were associated with “the emotional drain of work”, “work–life conflict”, and an insufficiently supportive work environment, the survey found.

Other push factors were “associated with leadership” the survey noted.

“To this end, it is important that the healthcare system and services give consideration to supporting stronger representation (and visibility of representation) of nursing or midwifery leadership.”

‘The current pressure NSW health services are under means there is a significant risk to the occupational and mental health of the health workforce.’

— Shaye Candish

KEY FINDINGS

13.3%

of respondents intended to retire in the next five years

58.2%

of respondents intend to leave their current position within five years.

37.4%

of those planned to do so within the next 12 months

Of those who intended to leave their current position, 22.2 per cent intended to get out of nursing, 36.3 per cent intended to stay in the profession and 
41.4 per cent were undecided.

The top three incentives to stay in the profession were better pay, better workplace supports, and reduced workload.

About the survey

The NSW public health sector workforce wellbeing survey was conducted during mid-2022.

Almost all survey respondents were NSWNMA members.

Of the 2305 nurses and midwives who responded to the survey, 88 per cent were women and 76 per cent were RNs.

Ages ranged from 18 years to 76 years and the mean age of respondents was 46.5 years.

More than one-third of respondents had caregiver responsibilities for children and one in five had other caregiver responsibilities at home.

The survey was conducted by the Rosemary Bryant AO Research Centre, which is a partnership between the University of South Australia, the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (SA Branch), and the Rosemary Bryant Foundation. n

Read the report here