Mental Health Status and the Intention to Leave the Profession of Nurses Employed Across Catalonia, Spain: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The relationship between nurses' mental well-being and intention to leave the profession remains a pressing issue. Aim: To determine the mental health status and the intention to leave the profession of nurses employed across diverse healthcare sectors in Catalonia, Spain. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 1051 Registered Nurses in Catalonia, Spain, using convenience sampling through social media platforms and personal contacts. Participants completed four standardised instruments online to measure anxiety, insomnia, depression and posttraumatic stress disorder, along with an ad hoc sociodemographic questionnaire. The methodology of this study was guided by the STROBE checklist. Results: The analysis revealed that a significant proportion of participants exhibited mental health issues: 44% showed moderate to severe anxiety, 31% experienced moderate to severe insomnia, 40% suffered from moderate to severe depression and 42% had moderate to severe posttraumatic stress disorder. Participants who had worked in COVID hospital units were 1.38 times more likely to experience poor mental health status. Although not all associations were statistically significant, nurses working in primary healthcare, intensive care units and nursing homes had increased odds of poor mental health. Additionally, 53% of participants had reconsidered their working status, with 69% of them expressing an intention to leave the nursing profession. Limitations: The evolving nature of the pandemic and the adaptation of healthcare workers to the new scenario may have influenced their experiences during data collection. Implications: Highlights the increase in mental health-related needs and high rates of psychiatric symptoms among nurses nowadays. Recommendations: Addressing mental health needs is crucial to mitigate the intention of nurses to abandon the profession.