The Relationship of Post-traumatic Stress, Job Stress and Turnover Intention in Emergency Department Nurses.

Purpose: This study was done to identify relationships among post-traumatic stress (PTS), job stress and turnover intention in emergency department (ED) nurses. Methods: Participants were 250 ED nurses who had worked for one month or longer in the ED one of three university hospitals or seven general hospitals in Daegu City or Gyeong Buk Province in Korea. Structured questionnaires were used to measure PTS, job stress, and turnover intention of participants. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way ANOVA, path analysis, and stepwise multiple regression with the SPSS program. Results: There were significant relationships between PTS, job stress and turnover intention. PTS influenced turnover intention directly and was indirectly mediated by job stress. The experience of traumatic events influenced PTS, job stress, and turnover intention. Indirect experience of traumatic events in the ED was an important predictor, explaining 20.1% of PTS in high-risk post-traumatic participants. Conclusion: PTS can be an important factor for job stress and turnover intention. The direct and indirect experience of traumatic events can influence PTS, job stress, and turnover intention in ED nurses. Based on these results, strategies for managing PTS and relating job stress are recommended to reduce turnover intention in ED nurses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]