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To examine which elements of thriving and PERMA may be associated with thriving and intentions to leave both the job and profession among early career nurses.
Retention of early career nurses is a global concern, with up to 60% leaving the profession within 2 years. While organisational factors have been widely examined, psychological constructs such as thriving and well-being are underexplored.
A cross-sectional design.
The study surveyed early career nurses (n = 90, response rate 34.1%) across Australia. Validated instruments assessed thriving, PERMA dimensions, organisational support and intention to leave. Multiple linear and logistic regressions identified key factors associated with thriving and intention to leave the job or profession. Reporting adhered to STROBE guidelines for observational studies.
Thriving was a significant factor associated with engagement (β 0.039, p = 0.031), relationships with colleagues (β 0.167, p = 032), and occupational hardiness (β 0.502, p = 0.001), while accomplishment was a negative factor associated with thriving (β −0.163, p = 0.001). Intention to leave the job was linked to lower levels of thriving (β −1.303, p = 0.048), reduced perceived organisational support (β −0.180, p = 0.048), and higher negative emotions (β 0.747, p = 0.009). Intention to leave the profession was associated with accomplishment (β 0.222, p = 0.048), perceived organisational support (β 0.193, p = 0.001), and years since graduation (β 0.299, p = 0.016).
Thriving was associated with engagement, peer support, and resilience, whereas attrition was associated with poor organisational support and negative affect. Accomplishment is negatively aligned with thriving and may reflect unmet expectations, increasing role strain, or other personal factors not directly related to organisational contexts. Results suggest psychologically supportive environments and PERMA-informed strategies may be important for enhancing early career nurse retention. Supporting nurses to thrive should be a key focus for managers seeking to sustain the nursing workforce.
This study provides actionable insights for creating psychologically supportive environments that may be associated with improved early career nurse retention. By applying the PERMA framework, healthcare leaders may consider implementing targeted strategies, such as fostering engagement, informing the importance of collegial relationships, and promoting resilience, in order to positively inform well-being and achieve lower levels of attrition in clinical settings.
No patient or public contribution.
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