A recent survey study found that while workplace assessments improved for nurses in Michigan from 2022 to 2023, high rates of planned departures, abusive events, and understaffing remained significant concerns.

In the Michigan Nurses' Study, published in JAMA Network Open, researchers from the University of Michigan surveyed practicing registered nurses at two time points: February 22 to March 1, 2022, and May 17 to June 1, 2023. The study included 9,150 nurses in 2022 and 7,059 nurses in 2023—with response rates of 8.3% and 7.4%, respectively. The primary outcome of the study was the nurses' intention to leave their current positions within 1 year.

The researchers utilized multivariable logistic regression to examine the factors associated with planned departures, controlling for personal and workplace factors. Sensitivity analyses were performed to address missing data and examine advanced practice nurses separately.

In the 2023 survey, 32% of nurses planned to leave their position compared with 39.1% of the nurses who participated in the 2022 survey. Among the nurses planning to leave in 2023, 41.8% intended to leave their current employer but remain in nursing, with workloads cited as the most frequent reason (29.4%).

Compared with the 2022 cohort, nurses in the 2023 cohort reported less workplace abuse or violence (43.4% vs 50.2%, fewer understaffed shifts (41.0% vs 48.2%), and less frequent use of mandatory overtime (11.7% vs 18.7%). The researchers found factors associated with an increased likelihood of planned departures included workplace abuse or violence (odds ratio [OR] = 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.05–1.82) and higher emotional exhaustion scores (OR = 3.05, 95% CI = 2.38–3.91). Favorable practice environments (OR = 0.37, 95% CI = 0.22–0.62) and excellent clinical setting safety ratings (OR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.14–0.56) were associated with a lower likelihood of planned departures.

Limitations of the study included low response rates, potential overlap between 2022 and 2023 respondents, and the inability to track participants' actual job changes because of the study design.

The authors declared having no competing interests.