Nurse Job Satisfaction and Turnover Intention in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

In Saudi Arabia, a large number of nurses come from other nations because the domestic demand for nurses exceeds the available supply. This is not an unusual situation, as there is a global shortage of nurses and retention rates remain consistently low (Almalki et al., 2011). This situation has also been exacerbated by population growth, which has required the Saudi healthcare system to accommodate increasing numbers of patients. As a result, there is a pressing need to handle nurse recruitment and retention more effectively (Almalki et al., 2011).

There is a serious need for better strategies to address nurse recruitment and retention because where retention is low and nurses are fewer, more patients are lost and failure-to-rescue rates are higher (Needleman et al., 2011). Where strategies are in place to improve the job experience of nurses, patients also benefit from the higher quality of care they receive (Hayes et al., 2010). Nurses who have an unsatisfactory work experience are more likely to leave their positions sooner and are less able to provide optimal care.

For a country like Saudi Arabia, which has a high demand for nurses, there is a genuine need to identify and evaluate the factors that contribute to a negative work experience and cause nurses to leave the profession. There is a gap in this area, as it has not been methodically examined. While studies have been carried out elsewhere, their findings cannot be generalized to the Saudi Arabian context. Nurses in the country face unique challenges, and the dynamics differ considerably from those in other nations. Culture is a particularly pertinent issue in Saudi Arabia; furthermore, the structures of healthcare institutions, organizational systems, and the nature of the work environment all differ significantly from those in other countries (Alasmari and Douglas, 2012).

This study aims to add to the available knowledge on how nurses' decisions to leave critical care employment relate to their job satisfaction. It is an exploratory study focused on Saudi Arabia that seeks to expand understanding of how job satisfaction and intention to leave are related, so that effective strategies to reduce nurse turnover can be developed. The study centers on the perspectives of nurses working in Saudi Arabia regarding job satisfaction and its impact on their intention to leave both their employment and the profession.

Context and Background of the Study

Saudi Arabia stands apart from other nations in terms of its cultural setting, religion, and the lifestyles of its people. This Islamic nation forms the focus of the study, and its unique characteristics are described here to provide appropriate context. The country's history, economy, demographics, social structure, and healthcare system are each addressed in turn.

Economy

Historically, the Saudi Arabian kingdom did not rely on oil for its wealth, as petroleum had not yet been discovered. Instead, activities such as fishing, agriculture, and trade were the primary economic pursuits. The country's economy also depended on income from religious tourists travelling to Makkah and Madinah as part of their pilgrimage. Oil was eventually discovered after the nation permitted geological exploration by American prospectors, who concentrated their efforts on the eastern region of the country (Alshmemri, 2014).

Demography

According to statistics provided by the Central Department of Statistics and Information of Saudi Arabia, the country's population in 2012 was just under 30 million, with 31% comprising foreign nationals. Among Saudi nationals, approximately 90% were of Arab descent and 10% were of other ethnic backgrounds (CDSI, 2013).

Society and Culture

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia follows the accepted practices of Islam as well as Arab cultural traditions. In the Islamic faith, Allah is regarded as the one who ends life, brings disease, and grants vitality. The influence of religion is felt across all spheres of society. Family values are upheld within the Muslim context, and interactions among family members are governed by Islamic principles such as loyalty, truthfulness, mercy, and respect for others. The education system also reflects Islamic values, with males and females educated separately through to university level. However, both have equal access to scholarships for study abroad. Historically, men in the country held greater privileges than women, though this situation has been gradually changing over time (Alshmemri, 2014).

Healthcare System

In the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the healthcare system has been improving steadily, incorporating advances in technology, modern infrastructure, and the benefits of a stronger economy. Significant developments have been made in recent years, and the country now boasts highly advanced systems comparable to those found in developed nations. Healthcare has been a priority for the government, with high levels of expenditure directed toward improving the quality of care and expanding the number of healthcare institutions. Entities providing healthcare in Saudi Arabia include government-run hospitals, hospitals operated by the Ministry of Higher Education, Medical Services for Security Forces, Armed Forces Medical Services, the National Guard Health Affairs, the Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu, and the Aramco Hospitals (Alshmemri, 2014).

The Saudi government views healthcare development as a key component of national development and gives it considerable attention. The Ministry of Health provides three levels of healthcare: primary, secondary, and tertiary. The primary level is the most widely accessible, with over 2,000 centers distributed across the country. The secondary level consists of government-run hospitals, while the tertiary level encompasses specialized centers for the treatment of major conditions such as heart disease, kidney disorders, and diabetes (MOH, 2011). As the country continues to develop, healthcare services are also expected to become increasingly advanced (Alshmemri, 2014).