Predicting Nurses’ Turnover: The Aversive Effects of Decreased Identity, Poor Interpersonal Communication, and Learned Helplessness

Abstract

Through a social identity theoretical lens, this study examines how nurses' identification with their working small group, unit, or floor, nursing role (e.g., staff ER nurse, nurse practitioner), and nursing profession relate to nurses' interaction involvement, willingness to confront conflict, feelings of learned helplessness, and tenure (employment turnover) intentions. A cross-sectional survey (N = 466) was conducted at a large, quaternary care hospital system. Structural equation modeling uncovered direct and indirect effects between the five primary variables. Findings demonstrate direct relationships between nurse identity (as a latent variable) and interaction involvement, willingness to confront conflict, and tenure intentions. Feelings of learned helplessness are attenuated by increased nurse identity through interaction involvement and willingness to confront conflict. In addition, willingness to confront conflict and learned helplessness mediate the relationship between interaction involvement and nurses' tenure intentions. Theoretical extensions include indirect links between nurse identity and learned helplessness via interaction involvement and willingness to confront conflict. Implications for interpersonal communication theory development, health communication, and the nursing profession are discussed.

Turnover intention among primary health workers in China: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“… 13–16 Previous studies have explored the factors that influence the TIs of PHWs. A variety of factors have been identified, such as demographic factors, 7 17–22 job satisfaction, 18 20 22–25 work stress, 13 18 25 burnout, 23 26 quality of work-life, 21 interpersonal communication 27 and violence from patients. 28 While these factors have been definitely linked with TI, some researchers have focused on factors outside of work.…”

Expanding structurational divergence theory by exploring the escalation of incompatible structures to conflict cycles in nursing

“…The SD-nexus by definition generates conflict. Nurses' unwillingness to confront conflict (Mahon & Nicotera, 2011) is associated with learned helplessness (Moreland et al, 2015), which is conceptually similar to the futility and hopelessness associated with the SD-cycle (Nicotera & Mahon, 2013). Furthermore, a TCP stress response to conflict may lead to bullying.…”

“…Here, we see immobilization and erosion of development. To complete the SD-cycle, stress also exacerbates ineffective conflict management (Moreland et al, 2015), making conflicts increasingly unresolvable-and then made only moreso with an unwillingness to confront conflict directly (Mahon & Nicotera, 2011). Finally, feelings of persecution attribute conflicts to personal rather than situational and institutional factors, further damaging relationships, impeding effective communication, and deepening the cycle.…”

Proceedings of the Iii International Scientific and Practical Conference “Psychological Health of the Person: Life Resource and Life Potential”

“…The purpose of this research is to study the influence of a unique complex combining the specified structural elements as the model forming learned helplessness in ontogenesis since the period of preschool childhood to adulthood (Moreland, Ewoldsen, Albert, Kosicki, & Clayton, 2015;Taylor, Neitzke, Khouri, Borckardt, Acierno, Tuerk, George, 2014;Chambers, & Hammonds, 2014).…”