COVID-19 Pandemic Disrupts Healthcare Sector, Contributing to Nurse Turnover Intentions

Strategic Insights -

A recent study published in the Nursing & Health Sciences journal has highlighted the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the healthcare sector, particularly on nurse turnover intentions. According to the research, the pandemic has exacerbated nurse turnover intentions globally, with organizational justice and effort-reward imbalance (ERI) being significant factors. The study, conducted by a team of researchers from Daiichi University of Pharmacy, found that interactional justice was negatively associated with turnover intentions, while ERI was positively associated. Psychological distress emerged as a significant mediator in the associations between interactional justice, ERI, and turnover intentions.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly disrupted the healthcare sector, leading to increased nurse turnover intentions globally.
  • Organizational justice and effort-reward imbalance (ERI) are key factors influencing nurse turnover intentions.
  • Interactional justice was negatively associated with turnover intentions, while ERI was positively associated.
  • Psychological distress emerged as a significant mediator in the associations between interactional justice, ERI, and turnover intentions.
  • Enhancing interactional justice and addressing ERI are critical strategies for reducing turnover intentions.
  • Alleviating psychological distress is essential for nurse retention.
  • The study highlights the need for healthcare organizations to prioritize improving organizational justice and addressing ERI to reduce nurse turnover intentions.

Statistics:

  • 773 nurses participated in the cross-sectional study.
  • Interactional justice was negatively associated with turnover intentions, with a significant mediating effect of psychological distress (p < 0.05).
  • ERI was positively associated with turnover intention, with job promotion and salary imbalance being the most influential components (p < 0.01).
  • Psychological distress emerged as a significant mediator in the associations between interactional justice, ERI, and turnover intentions (p < 0.05).
  • The study suggests a 10% reduction in turnover intentions for every unit increase in interactional justice (β = -0.10, p < 0.01).

Sources:

  • NewsRx. New Findings Reported from Daiichi University of Pharmacy Describe Advances in COVID-19 (Organizational Justice and Nurses' Turnover Intentions: Mediating Effects of Psychological Distress). Psychology & Psychiatry Journal. September 6, 2025; p 177.
  • Nursing & Health Sciences. Organizational Justice and Nurses' Turnover Intentions: Mediating Effects of Psychological Distress. 2025;27(3).