Effects of a psychological capital intervention on emergency nurses’ work engagement and turnover intention: A randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND: Emergency nurses are exposed to high occupational stress, which leads to decreased psychological capital, reduced work engagement, and high turnover intention. Evidence on targeted psychological capital intervention (PCI) for this population remains limited. METHODS: A parallel randomized controlled trial was conducted. A total of 122 emergency nurses from a tertiary hospital in Zhejiang Province were randomly assigned to the intervention group (6-week PCI, n = 61) or the control group (routine training, n = 61). Outcomes were measured at baseline (T0), post-intervention (T1), 1 month (T2), and 3 months (T3) using the Psychological Capital Questionnaire, Utrecht Work Engagement Scale, and Turnover Intention Scale. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics and outcome scores were comparable between groups (all P > .05). At T1 to T3, the intervention group had significantly higher Psychological Capital Questionnaire and Utrecht Work Engagement Scale scores and lower Turnover Intention Scale scores than the control group (all P < .001). Psychological capital was positively correlated with work engagement (R = 0.604, P < .001) and negatively correlated with turnover intention (r = -0.624, P < .001). CONCLUSION: This 6-week PCI program significantly improves psychological capital and work engagement, and reduces turnover intention among emergency nurses, with effects sustained for at least 3 months. These findings support the utility of PCI as a psychological management strategy for emergency nursing staff.