Factors influencing staff turnvover among the nurses: the case of Compassion International assisted projects of Isiolo and Meru sub clusters, Kenya

Abstract

This research establishes factors influencing staff turnover among nurses of Compassion International assisted projects of Isiolo and Meru sub clusters, Kenya. It is noted that turnover among nurses is a major phenomenon around the globe as pointed out in the literature review. This study was guided by the following objectives; to establish the influence of job security on labour turnover, to establish the influence of non financial motivations on labour turnover, to establish the influence of working environment on labour turnover, to establish the influence of age on labour turnover and finally, to establish how training influences labour turnover.

Descriptive research design was adapted for this study where structured and semi structured questionnaires were used. Due to scarcity of financial resources and limited time, the study was conducted around Meru Town, Ruiri in Meru, Timau and Isiolo comprising of 12 projects out of the 285 projects located across Kenya. The target population was 87, the estimated sample size was forty comprising of the four nurses in the projects of Isiolo, and Meru who were purposively sampled, 25 other staff members randomly selected from the accessible population and 11 former staff that left in the last three years.

Data was edited, coded and then analyzed by use of a computer program called SPSS. The study found that there was a positive relationship between the turnover of nurses and job security, non-financial motivations, working environment, age of the nurse and the training orientation of the nurses. The project nurse had higher turnover than any other staff member had in the projects and was also found to be the most likely staff to seek for other employments when compared with the other staffs. The study recommended that employers and trainers for nurses be alert on what is needed from each of them to have a positive and enabling environment for nurses to be retained at the projects.