Why Frontline Nurses Quit

Health Affairs Scholar published a June 5, 2026, article on drivers of frontline registered nurse turnover. The article presents a statistical analysis of the latest National Survey of Registered Nurses data. It identified drivers of actual, self-reported turnover among 8,953 frontline registed nurses. The article found that -

• Turnover was 28.7%.

• Nurses dissatisfied with their primary position were over two-and-a-half times more likely to turnover.

• Nurses enrolled in school or holding graduate degrees demonstrated higher actually turnover rates.

• Participation in a labor union or collective bargaining agreement was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of nurses' turnover.

You can read the full survey results here.