Turnover of nursing workers in an adult emergency unit

Abstract

Objective: to calculate the overall turnover rate of nursing workers from the adult emergency unit of a general teaching hospital in the period between January 2005 and December 2013. Method: quantitative, exploratory, descriptive, retrospective study; data collection performed on documents/work schedules of the unit. Turnover rate calculated considering monthly entry/exit of workers at the unit’s work schedules. Results: 171 professionals worked in the emergency unit in this period; 101 left the unit (57 migrated to other areas and 44 left the institution). Time of service presented trend of nine years and median of two years and four months. Global turnover above 3% in four months in 2006; October/2008; April to September/2009; four months in 2010; July/2011; and May/2013. Conclusion: considering the effects of staff turnover for nursing care, it is recommended to adopt indicators for management/control of this condition.