Abstract
Background: Although the importance of nurse leadership stability and participation in decision making in nursing homes is well established, scarce literature exists on determinants of intent to leave among directors of nursing (DONs) in nursing homes.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine factors associated with DON intent to leave in nursing homes.
Methodology: We examined potential factors associated with DON intent to leave at three levels: individual DON characteristics, facility, and county-level market factors. A survey of nurse supervisors in Texas nursing homes, the 2003 Texas Nursing Facility Medicaid Cost Report, and the Area Resource File were merged. We only included respondents who identified themselves as DONs in this study (572 observations). We examined bivariate differences in individual DON characteristics on the basis of facility ownership (for-profit versus not-for-profit homes) and geographic location (urban versus rural location). We constructed three alternative logit models to explore the relationships between DON intent to leave and DON, facility, and market characteristics.
Findings: DONs working in for-profit homes were more inclined to leave, less satisfied with their job, and had lower levels of perceived empowerment in terms of autonomy. Educational level and intention to leave were significantly higher for DONs working in urban areas. Job satisfaction was significantly and inversely associated with intent to leave in all three models. Higher perceived salary competitiveness and level of empowerment were associated with reduced odds of intending to leave. Higher educational levels were associated with higher odds of intentions to leave.
Practice Implications: Nursing homes should focus on improving DON job satisfaction, empowerment in decision making, and salary competitiveness when designing retention strategies for DONs.