Associations Between Quality of Nursing Work Life, Work Ability Index and Intention to Leave the Workplace and Profession: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Nurses in Croatia

Snježana Čukljek (), Janko Babić, Boris Ilić, Slađana Režić, Biljana Filipović, Jadranka Pavić, Ana Marija Švigir and Martina Smrekar
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Snježana Čukljek: Department of Nursing, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Janko Babić: Department of Health Psychology, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Boris Ilić: Department of Nursing, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Slađana Režić: Department of Nursing, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Biljana Filipović: Department of Nursing, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Jadranka Pavić: Department of Nursing, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Ana Marija Švigir: Department of Nursing, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Martina Smrekar: Department of Nursing, University of Applied Health Sciences, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia

IJERPH, 2025, vol. 22, issue 8, 1-14

Abstract: Introduction: Nurses are the largest group of healthcare workers, and healthcare managers should pay attention to the quality of work life and the health and working capacity of nurses in order to ensure a sufficient number of nurses and a stable workforce. Aim: The present study aimed to determine nurses’ quality of work life, work ability index and intention to leave the nursing profession and to examine the associations between nurses’ quality of work life, work ability index and intention to leave the nursing profession. Methods: An online cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 498 nurses completed the instrument, consisting of demographic data, Brooks’ Quality of Nursing Work Life Survey (BQNWL), Work Ability Index Questionnaire (WAIQ) and questions on their intention to leave their current job or the nursing profession. Results: Most nurses had a moderate quality of work life (QWL) (73.7%) and a good work ability index (WAI) (43.78%). Men ( p = 0.047), nurses who study ( p = 0.021), nurses who do not have children ( p = 0.000) and nurses who do not take care of their parents ( p = 0.000) have a statistically significantly higher total WAIQ score. Most nurses (61.1%) had considered changing jobs in the last 12 months, and 36.9% had considered leaving the nursing profession. A statistically significant positive correlation was found between the total BQNWL and the total WAI. The study found no correlation between QWL, WAI and intention to change jobs or leave the profession, which was unexpected. Conclusions: To ensure the provision of necessary nursing care and a healthy working environment for nurses, it is necessary to regularly monitor QWL and WAI and take measures to ensure the highest quality of working life. Further longitudinal and mixed-methods research is needed to understand the relationship between QWL, WAI and intention to leave.

Keywords: nurse; work ability; quality of work life; intention to leave (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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