Intention to leave and missed nursing care: a scoping review

INTRODUCTION The nursing profession is fundamental to the functioning of healthcare systems but is often characterised by high turnover rates, considerable job dissatisfaction, and a significant intention to leave. A closely related phenomenon is "missed nursing care," defined as essential nursing tasks that are omitted (partially or completely), delayed, or not performed. The relationship between missed nursing care and the intention to leave the profession represents a critical issue in modern healthcare. AIMS This scoping review aims to synthesize evidence on the relationship between Missed Nursing Care (MNC) and Intention to Leave (ITL), highlighting the factors influencing both phenomena. MATERIAL AND METHODS A scoping review was conducted to examine the relationship between "missed nursing care" and "intention to leave" among nurses. The search, conducted between May and June 2024, included PUBMED, SCOPUS, and EBSCO databases, focusing on English-language studies from the last 10 years. Zotero was used for study management, and quality assessment was performed using the "JBI Critical Appraisal Tools." Two independent reviewers screened studies and resolved discrepancies through discussion and consensus. RESULTS The electronic research strategies used produced 102 papers, of which 24 were relevant to the aims of the review. The results of this study show a clear correlation between missed nursing care and intention to leave among nurses in different healthcare settings. DISCUSSION This literature review demonstrates a strong and consistent correlation between missed nursing care and nurses' intention to leave the profession. The findings indicate that missed nursing care is closely linked to heightened job dissatisfaction, which in turn significantly increases the likelihood of nurses considering leaving their roles. CONCLUSIONS The relationship between missed nursing care and intention to leave the profession is well documented in the literature and highlights the importance of addressing the factors that contribute to missed nursing care. Improving nurses' working conditions is essential to reduce their intention to leave the profession. To effectively tackle missed nursing care and mitigate the intention to leave, it is necessary to adopt targeted strategic and management approaches and to foster an organisational culture that prioritises the well-being of nurses.