The Relationship Between Occupational Stigma Perception and Turnover Intention Among Clinical Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study

Aims To describe occupational stigma perception and turnover intention of clinical nurses in Chongqing and to clarify the relationship between them. Methods This is a cross-sectional survey of 1139 clinical nurses from tertiary hospitals in Chongqing, China, conducted between June and August 2023. Results The scores of occupational stigma perception and resignation intention were 20.22±4.71 and 13.37±3.90, respectively, and there was a positive correlation between occupational stigma perception and resignation intention ( β =0.195, P ＜0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that gender, age, job title, number of night shifts per month, and perception of occupational stigma were the influencing factors of turnover intention ( P ＜0.05). Conclusion A higher perception of professional stigma among clinical nurses is associated with an increased intention to leave their jobs. Nursing managers should be attentive to the detrimental impact of occupational stigma on nurse retention and workforce stability.