Supporting the acute care clinical nurse educator workforce: A scoping review of job satisfaction and turnover intentions

Objective To map the literature on job satisfaction and turnover intentions among clinical nurse educators (CNEs) in acute care settings. Background The global nursing shortage poses a critical threat to healthcare quality and patient safety. CNEs play a pivotal role in workforce preparedness and retention; however, their roles are inconsistently defined, under-resourced, and associated with high turnover. Despite their importance, no comprehensive synthesis has examined job satisfaction and turnover intentions among CNEs, limiting retention strategies. Design Scoping review. Methods The review followed JBI scoping review methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, and the protocol was registered with the Open Science Framework. English-language publications from 2013 onward were eligible if they focused on CNEs in acute care settings and examined job satisfaction and/or turnover intentions. Included sources comprised peer-reviewed quantitative, qualitative, mixed-methods studies, opinion papers, and relevant gray literature. Seven databases and gray literature sources were searched in January 2025, and seven eligible sources were identified and managed in Covidence. Two reviewers independently screened studies and extracted and charted data, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. Findings were synthesized using descriptive qualitative content analysis. Results Factors influencing job satisfaction included peer support, organizational culture, intrinsic motivation, role ambiguity, and insufficient support. Turnover intentions were linked to role transition challenges and personal and demographic factors. Mentorship and communities of practice mitigated turnover intentions and supported retention. Conclusions Targeted strategies are needed to clarify the CNE role, strengthen organizational and peer support systems, and foster professional communities to improve retention and workforce stability.