A national survey of factors leading to health care worker turnover in Canadian intensive care units
Authors' conclusion
Intent to leave and workplace dissatisfaction remained high among ICU staff following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Study context
- Population
- Canadian intensive care unit (ICU) health care workers (nurses, respiratory therapists, physicians, social workers), surveyed August–December 2023
- Participants
- 490 respondents
- Outcome
- Factors leading ICU health care workers to leave or consider leaving their ICU positions since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic
Methodological detailsnational electronic survey, validated measures of well-being, workplace satisfaction and moral distress
- National electronic survey
- Validated measures of well-being, workplace satisfaction and moral distress
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Turnover, intent to leave and contributing factors
- Had left an ICU position since 2020
- 51%
- Still employed: thought about leaving at least monthly
- 72%
- Still employed: thought about leaving daily
- 19%
- COVID-19 pandemic contributed to decision or desire to leave
- 58%
- Factor: excessive workload
- 69%
- Factor: inadequate staffing
- 68%
- Factor: inadequate work-life balance
- 64%
- Factor: decreased professional efficacy
- 51%
- Factor: dissatisfaction with organizational leadership
- 60%
- Factor: dissatisfaction with organizational culture
- 53%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Interventions deemed most important to improve retention
- Unit-based
- 54%
- Organization-based
- 20%
Workplace satisfaction and well-being, intent to leave vs already left
- Similarly poor in staff with intent to leave and staff who had already left
Original publication
A national survey of factors leading to health care worker turnover in Canadian intensive care units. Can J Anaesth. Published 7 May 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →