The Influence of Workplace Sense of Belonging and Structural Empowerment on Perioperative Nurses’ Turnover Intent

Perioperative nurse turnover adds to workforce instability and affects patient safety and the well-being of nurses. Nurse turnover is influenced by an interplay of individual nurse characteristics, workplace interpersonal relationships, and organizational culture. The purpose of our study was to describe nurse turnover intention and explore the predictive influence of workplace sense of belonging and structural empowerment in a nationwide sample of perioperative nurses. Participants (N = 468) completed an online demographic questionnaire and three validated self-survey instruments. Approximately 40% of participants reported some degree of turnover intent. AORN membership (unstandardized beta [B] = -3.85, P < .05), structural empowerment (B = -0.80, P < .05), and workplace sense of belonging (B = -0.51, P < .001) were independent predictors of lower turnover intent scores. The findings provide valuable insights for designing interventions to promote supportive workplace relationships and create work environments where nurses feel empowered.