Nurses’ job dissatisfaction and turnover intention: Methodological myths and an alternative approach

TLDR: The person-environment fit theory is introduced as an alternative framework, which challenges the assumption that a nurse-environment relationship is a one-way interaction in which nurses passively respond to their environment, and enables nurse researchers to develop a more mutual approach involving the nurse and environment.

Abstract: Job dissatisfaction and turnover are recurring themes in nursing. The current international nursing shortage has resulted in increased interest in investigating the causes of nurses' job dissatisfaction and turnover, and in developing countermeasures to address these issues. This paper involves a review of quantitative nursing studies, which investigated the causes of nurses' job dissatisfaction and turnover intention, and identifies commonly held myths that may inhibit more nurse-centered strategies from being developed. These myths are based on an assumption that a nurse-environment relationship is a one-way interaction in which nurses passively respond to their environment. The paper introduces the person-environment fit theory as an alternative framework, which challenges the assumption by suggesting it is the relationship between person and environment, rather than environmental characteristics alone, that affects nurses' occupational behavior. This theory enables nurse researchers to develop a more mutual approach involving the nurse and environment.