Turnover intention and its influencing factors among male nurses in China: a national-scale descriptive study

BACKGROUND: The number of registered male nurses has increased in China, yet research specifically addressing their turnover intentions remains limited. While high turnover intention is known to exacerbate the workforce shortage of nurses, the national level and unique factors contributing to turnover intention among registered male nurses in China are unclear and underexplored. AIM: This study aimed to investigate the turnover intention of registered male nurses in China and its unique influencing factors, with focus on variables that have received limited attention in previous research. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, 13,088 registered male nurses were recruited from over 1,000 hospitals across China between May and August 2023. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire. Univariate analysis and multinomial logistics regression were performed to analyze the data. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable. RESULTS: Our analysis revealed that 71.6% of registered male nurses in China exhibited medium to high turnover intentions. Male nurses with no children, lower occupational prestige, and lower work values were more likely to exhibit a higher turnover intention. Other significant factors contributing to a high turnover intention included low income satisfaction, limited career development opportunities, and minimal support from hospitals. CONCLUSIONS: A substantial proportion of registered male nurses in China express moderate to high turnover intentions, driven by factors that extend beyond traditional occupational concerns. This study highlights the importance of addressing less explored variables such as work value, occupational prestige and marital pressures in developing targeted interventions to enhance job satisfaction and reduce turnover within this essential workforce segment.