In a cross-sectional questionnaire study predictors for the intent to leave the nursing profession on the one hand and predictors for the intent to change the job within the nursing profession on the other hand are examined. Data were collected by a national survey of nursing personnel in Germany. The sample of the study consists of 454 nurses working in acute care hospitals. As possible predictors work-related psychological stress, the strain due to illness and behaviour of the patients, psychosomatic pains, organisational, structural as well as sociodemographic variables are taken into account. The relevant predictors are identified by two multiple, linear regression analyses. Psychosomatic pains, low decision latitude, high psychological job demands, short job tenure, the strain due to aggressive and nagging patients, bad cooperation between doctors and nurses, low support by the supervisor and professional status (supervising position) turn out to be predictive for the intent to leave the nursing profession (R2 = 30%). For the intent to change the job within the profession significant predictors are low social support by colleagues, low support by the supervisor, psychosomatic pains, age, short job tenure, and the number of beds in the unit (R2 = 44%). The results indicate, that for the prevention of professional exit early individual measures should be taken where-as the improvement of communication and cooperation among colleagues could keep nurses from job rotation within the profession.
