Why Nurses Are Calling in Sick: The Impact of Health-Care Restructuring

Abstract

Absenteeism among registered nurses is a major concern for employers; it is costly and results in decreased standards of care. Despite the international interest in and research on absenteeism, there is relatively little cumulative knowledge regarding its determinants. This quantitative, non-experimental study profiled the reasons for absenteeism in a random sample of 2,000 front-line nurses in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan. Absence was defined as time away from work excluding holidays, strike, or layoff. Major causes of absenteeism were identified, including minor ailment and fatigue related to work overload. A total of 450 respondents had seriously considered leaving the nursing profession, with 50.4% citing overwork and stress as the primary causes. Higher rates of absenteeism were found to be associated with lower job satisfaction, longer shifts, working in acute care, and working full-time. Moderate job dissatisfaction was found to be associated with longer shifts and working in acute care. In light of the current nursing shortage, strategies for reducing absenteeism and increasing job satisfaction are warranted.