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. 2022 Jun 2;69(3):392–404. doi: 10.1111/inr.12769

TABLE 2.

Noneconomic impacts of nurse turnover in acute hospitals

Nurse turnover Noneconomic impacts Findings Authors (year)
  • I. Workgroup process

RN turnover rate (Jan–Feb) Workgroup cohesion Not significant Bae et al. (2010)
RN turnover rate (Mar–Apr) Relational coordination with other healthcare providers Not significant Bae et al. (2010)
RN turnover rate (Mar–Apr) Relational coordination with physicians and pharmacists Not significant Bae et al. (2010)
RN turnover rate (Jan–Feb, 0% as ref, > 0% to ≦ 3.3%, > 3.3% to ≦ 4.5%, > 4.5 to ≦ 7.5%, > 7.5%) Workgroup learning

Decreased (> 3.3% to ≦ 4.5%)

Not significant (other turnover groups)

Bae et al. (2010)
  • II. Nurse staffing

RN turnover in quarter RN HPPD in the current quarters Decreased Park et al. (2014)
RN turnover in quarter RN HPPD in the subsequent quarters Decreased Park et al. (2014)
Voluntary nurse turnover rates Job demands (monthly adjusted patient days/number of nurses in unit) Increased Reilly et al. (2014)
  • III. Nurse outcomes

Annual RN turnover rate Mental health Decreased O'Brien‐Pallas et al. (2010)
Annual RN turnover rate Job satisfaction Decreased O'Brien‐Pallas et al. (2010)
  • IV. Patient outcomes

RN turnover rate (Jan–Feb, Mar–Apr) Patient satisfaction Not significant Bae et al. (2010)
Voluntary nurse turnover rate Patient satisfaction Decreased Reilly et al. (2014)
Estimation of the average rate of fluctuation of nurse per year (annual turnover) Patient satisfaction Decreased Winter et al. (2020)
RN turnover rate (Jan–Feb, 0% as ref, > 0% to ≦ 3.3%, > 3.3% to ≦ 4.5%, > 4.5 to ≦ 7.5%, > 7.5%) Patient falls

Decreased (> 0% to ≦ 3.3%)

Not significant (other turnover groups)

Bae et al. (2010)

Monthly RN turnover Patient falls Not significant Bae et al. (2014)
Quarterly RN turnover Injury falls Not significant Bae et al. (2014)
Quarterly RN turnover Pressure ulcer Not significant Bae et al. (2014)
Quarterly RN turnover Unit‐acquired pressure ulcer Not significant Bae et al. (2014)
Lagged quarterly RN turnover rate Unit‐acquired pressure ulcers Increased Park et al. (2014)
Concurrent quarterly RN turnover rate Unit‐acquired pressure ulcers Not significant Park et al. (2014)
RN turnover rate (Jan–Feb, 0% as ref, > 0% to ≦ 3.3%, > 3.3% to ≦ 4.5%, > 4.5 to ≦ 7.5%, > 7.5%) Medication errors Not significant Bae et al. (2010)
Annual RN turnover rate Medical errors Increased O'Brien‐Pallas et al (2010)
RN turnover rate (Jan–Feb) Average length of patient stay Not significant Bae et al. (2010)
Monthly nurse turnover Incidence of nonplanned extubation of endotracheal cannula Not significant Leitão et al. (2017)
Monthly nurse turnover Incidence of loss of nasogastric/enteral tube Not significant Leitão et al. (2017)
Monthly nurse turnover Incidence of skin injury Not significant Leitão et al. (2017)
Monthly nurse turnover Incidence of loss of central venous catheter Not significant Leitão et al. (2017)

Note: HPPD, hours per patient day; ref, reference group; RN, registered nurse.