The survey found that one in five nurses plans to leave the profession within the next five years because of poor working conditions. According to this survey, one in five nurses now working are seriously considering leaving within the next five years. Hospitals have to do what it takes to retain the nurses they have, try to bring back those who left in frustration, and recruit new people into the profession. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, an additional 450,000 registered nurses will be needed through the year 2008. Feldman said the newly discovered group of highly discontented nurses would exacerbate the already acute demand for more nurses.
Half think about leaving.
50 percent of current nurses say they have thought about leaving nursing. This number excludes those expected to retire. Current nurses under age 40 are nearly as likely to have thought about leaving nursing as their colleagues over age 50. One-fifth expect to quit soon. One in five current nurses, or 21 percent, say they expect to leave nursing within the next five years.