Nurses' Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intentions over a Six‐Year Period of Hospital Downsizing and Amalgamation

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Abstract
This longitudinal panel study examined the job satisfaction and turnover intention of 111 nurses employed in four community hospitals in Canada. Data were collected in 1991, again in 1992 following hospital restructuring and downsizing associated with budget cutbacks, in 1995 at the beginning of an amalgamation initiative, and in 1997 during the amalgamation which also involved restructuring and downsizing. In 1992, following the first hospital restructuring and downsizing, nurses reported a significant decrease in satisfaction with their career future and with their hospital but a significant decrease in turnover. A different picture emerged in 1997. Nurses reported a significant decrease in overall job satisfaction, satisfaction with the kind of work they were performing, the amount of work, their physical working conditions, their career future and their hospital. They also reported a significant increase in turnover intention. As Canada is currently entering a period of nurse shortage, the restructuring and downsizing these hospitals engaged in between 1992 and 1997 are likely to have serious consequences for the recruitment and retention of nurses in the future.