Perceived caring, job satisfaction, and intention to leave among nursing professionals in Slovenian emergency departments: a cross-sectional study

Nursing shortages represent a major challenge for healthcare systems, particularly in emergency departments (EDs), which are characterized by high workload and stressful working conditions. Although caring is a core concept in nursing, its relationship with job satisfaction and intention to leave remains insufficiently explored. This study aimed to examine the associations between perceived caring, job satisfaction, and intention to leave among nursing professionals in Slovenian EDs. A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and December 2025. Data were collected using standardized questionnaires from a convenience sample of nursing professionals working in EDs ( n = 175; response rate 49.2%). Descriptive statistics, non-parametric tests, and multivariable regression analyses were applied. Caring for patients received the highest mean score ( M = 5.87), followed by caring for self ( M = 5.37), caring of managers ( M = 5.19), and caring of co-workers ( M = 5.15), whereas organizational caring was rated lowest ( M = 4.41). Overall job satisfaction was moderate ( M = 4.83); among the HES subscales, the lowest score was for distributive justice ( M = 2.81). Job satisfaction was positively associated with all dimensions of perceived caring ( p < 0.001), with the strongest correlations for organizational caring ( r ₛ = 0.564) and caring of managers ( r ₛ = 0.551). Complete-case analyses included 168 participants in the hierarchical multiple linear regression and 151 participants in the ordinal logistic regression. Caring of managers, organizational caring, and caring of co-workers were independently associated with job satisfaction, with the final model explaining 48.3% of variance. In the ordinal logistic regression, higher job satisfaction was independently associated with lower intention to leave after adjustment for the other variables in the model (OR = 0.28, 95% CI [0.16, 0.49], p < 0.001). Perceived caring, particularly at the managerial, organizational, and co-worker levels, was most consistently associated with job satisfaction, while job satisfaction was independently associated with intention to leave. Supportive managerial practices and a caring organizational culture may represent promising targets for future intervention research aimed at improving nurses’ job satisfaction and workforce retention, although longitudinal studies are needed to confirm these relationships. Not applicable.