The mediating effect of work engagement on the relationship between professional calling and turnover intention among Chinese nurses: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Nurse turnover is a global public health challenge, particularly in China due to high work intensity and personnel shortages. Effective nursing management and well-being strategies can reduce turnover intentions by improving job satisfaction and work environments. However, empirical evidence on how professional calling influences nurse turnover intentions in China is lacking. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of work engagement between professional calling and turnover intentions among Chinese clinical nurses.

Methods: This is a cross-sectional survey research design. A convenience sampling method was used to select 906 clinical nurses from Sichuan and Zhejiang provinces in China. A professional calling scale, work engagement scale, and turnover intention scale were used to survey the included research subjects.

Results: Correlation analysis results revealed that professional calling was negatively correlated with turnover intentions (r=-0.852, P < 0.01), work engagement was negatively correlated with turnover intentions (r=-0.790, P < 0.01), and professional calling was significantly positively correlated with work engagement (r = 0.834, P < 0.01). The mediation effect analysis results found that the total effect of professional calling on turnover intentions among clinical nurses was - 0.432, with a direct effect of -0.322, accounting for 74.5% of the total effect, and the mediating effect of work engagement between professional calling and turnover intentions was - 0.110, accounting for 25.5% of the total effect.

Conclusions: Enhancing work engagement through interventions that strengthen nurses' professional calling can effectively reduce turnover intentions. Specific strategies include improving work environments, providing career development opportunities, and fostering a sense of professional identity.