Nurses' and midwives' job satisfaction and retention during COVID-19: a scoping review

BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic focused attention on the previously well-documented world-wide shortage of nurses and midwives. The pandemic accentuated this crisis, which resulted in nurses and midwives questioning their roles and their careers. The impact of the pandemic on job satisfaction and the intention of nurses and midwives to stay has not been adequately explored.AimThe aim of this scoping review was to identify and map the literature that describes the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influenced nurses' and midwives' job satisfaction and intent to stay or leave their employment or profession during the COVID-19 pandemic.MethodThis scoping review was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) guidelines. Studies written in English and published between 2019 and December 2023 were included, and consisted of quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies. MEDLINE, CINAHL, and PsychINFO were the key information sources. The search terms for this review were developed using the PCC mnemonic: Population, Concept and Context. The JBI approach to sources selection, data extraction and presentation of data was used.ResultsA total of 1833 relevant articles were identified. Of these, 17 articles met the inclusion criteria. Ten factors were identified as impacting on nurses and midwives job satisfaction and retention during the COVID-19 pandemic.ConclusionThe findings reveal key factors, such as patient acuity, staffing dynamics, leadership quality, and resource availability, have significantly shaped the professional experiences of nurses and midwives during the pandemic. These insights can inform targeted policies and interventions to improve job satisfaction and retention, while future research should address gaps, particularly the unique challenges faced by midwives, to strengthen the healthcare workforce for future crises.Summary of relevanceProblem: Little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on job satisfaction and intention to stay among nurses and midwives.What is already known: The pandemic resulted in unprecedented and demanding working environments for nurses and midwives.What this paper adds: This scoping review maps the intrinsic and extrinsic factors regarding nurses' and midwives' job satisfaction and intent to stay in their professions during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were multifaceted challenges and adaptations in the nursing and midwifery work environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. More research is required, especially about the effects of the pandemic on midwives.Summary of relevanceProblem: Little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on job satisfaction and intention to stay among nurses and midwives.What is already known: The pandemic resulted in unprecedented and demanding working environments for nurses and midwives.What this paper adds: This scoping review maps the intrinsic and extrinsic factors regarding nurses' and midwives' job satisfaction and intent to stay in their professions during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were multifaceted challenges and adaptations in the nursing and midwifery work environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. More research is required, especially about the effects of the pandemic on midwives.Summary of relevanceProblem: Little is known about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on job satisfaction and intention to stay among nurses and midwives. What is already known: The pandemic resulted in unprecedented and demanding working environments for nurses and midwives.What this paper adds: This scoping review maps the intrinsic and extrinsic factors regarding nurses' and midwives' job satisfaction and intent to stay in their professions during the COVID-19 pandemic. There were multifaceted challenges and adaptations in the nursing and midwifery work environments during the COVID-19 pandemic. More research is required, especially about the effects of the pandemic on midwives.