Physical Activity as a Novel Predictive Factor for Intention to Re- sign Among Emergency Department Nurses

Background: The intention to resign among nursing staff is a critical concern, particularly in Taiwan. While factors such as workplace bullying, work environment, and burnout have been widely studied, the potential role of physical activity in influencing resignation intention remains unexplored. This study aimed to investigate whether physical activity levels can serve as predictive factors for intention to resign among emergency department (ED) nurses. Methods: A descriptive and prospective study was conducted among 121 ED nurses from three hospitals in South- ern Taiwan. Data were collected using structured questionnaires, including demographic information, the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R), Taiwan Nursing Work Environment Index (TNWEI), Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Service Survey (MBI-HSS) Chinese version, and International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) Taiwanese version. Univariate and multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with intention to resign. Results: A significant negative correlation was observed between physical activity levels and the intention to resign among ED nurses. Higher physical activity levels were associated with reduced intention to resign. The overall regression model demonstrated strong explanatory power (R-squared value = 0.76). Conclusions: This study identifies physical activity as a predictive factor for intention to resign among ED nurses, offering a novel perspective for understanding and addressing nurse turnover. Promoting physical activity among nursing staff may help mitigate resignation intentions, enhance organizational stability, and improve the quality of patient care. These findings can inform healthcare administrators and policymakers to develop targeted strategies to support nurse retention.