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Nursing Turnover in the UAE: Factors Influencing Job Satisfaction and Intention to Leave

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Researchers from College of Nursing in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia conducted a cross-sectional study to investigate the relationships between job satisfaction, work environment, and intention to leave among registered nurses in the UAE. The study's findings suggest that both work environment and job satisfaction are significant predictors of nurses' intention to leave their positions. The results indicate that approximately 40.8% of nurses reported a high intention to leave their jobs, with significant correlations found between intention to leave and factors such as education level, years of experience, employment status, and nationality.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study found a significant correlation between education level and intention to leave (P = .038), with nurses with higher education levels reporting a higher intention to leave.
  • Years of experience was also found to be a significant predictor of intention to leave (P = .033), with nurses with more years of experience reporting a higher intention to leave.
  • Employment status was a significant predictor of intention to leave (P = .002), with nurses in private employment reporting a higher intention to leave than those in governmental employment.
  • Nationality was also found to be a significant predictor of intention to leave (P = .037), with nurses not from the UAE reporting a higher intention to leave.
  • Regression analysis revealed that both work environment (b = 1.156, P = .015) and job satisfaction (b = 0.857, P = .015) were significant predictors of intention to leave.
  • The study's findings highlight the need for nursing managers and healthcare leaders to prioritize strategies that enhance work conditions, support professional development, reduce burnout, and offer competitive compensation to promote nurse retention and better patient care.

Statistics:

  • Approximately 40.8% of nurses reported a high intention to leave their jobs.
  • 294 nurses participated in the study.
  • The number of nurses who reported a high intention to leave differed significantly by education level (P = .038), years of experience (P = .033), employment status (P = .002), and nationality (P = .037).
  • The study found significant correlations between the work environment and job satisfaction with intention to leave (r = 0.456, P = .015 and r = 0.329, P = .015, respectively).

Sources:

  • Associations Between Intention to Leave, Job Satisfaction, and Work Environment Among Registered Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in the United Arab Emirates. SAGE Open Nursing, 2025,11.
  • Health & Medicine Week. August 15, 2025; p 4999.
  • NewsRx. Reports on Nursing Findings from College of Nursing Provide New Insights (Associations Between Intention to Leave, Job Satisfaction, and Work Environment Among Registered Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study in the United Arab Emirates).

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