Introduction:

The aging demographic of Polish nursing personnel, coupled with a widening generation gap, constitutes a pressing concern for the healthcare system. This is further exacerbated by existing limitations in staff availability and projections of a significant workforce deficit within the 20-40 age group.

Aim of the research:

This study aims to investigate the levels of job satisfaction and the associated influencing factors among nurses aged 18 to 44. Furthermore, it seeks to identify specific occupational stressors that play a significant role in contributing to nurses’ decisions to exit the profession.

Material and methods:

This study employed an auditory questionnaire to gather data from 404 nurses (male and female) working in the Mazowieckie and Świętokrzyskie Voivodeships. The classification of occupational stressors was based on the theoretical framework developed by Levi and Frankenhaeuser.

Results:

The statistical analysis revealed significant differences between nurses’ age and their perceptions of social relations in the workplace, as well as their reported stress levels related to physical working conditions, time pressure, and coping with new technologies. A significant relationship was observed between nurses’ age and their inclination to undertake professional retraining. Finally, a specific set of stressors was identified as a determinant in nurses’ decisions to leave the profession.

Conclusions:

Nurses aged 18 to 34 demonstrate increased vulnerability to occupational stress and a higher likelihood of considering career changes, especially among those for whom nursing constitutes their first professional role. Ensuring appropriate working conditions, effective supervisory support, and access to emotional regulation resources are essential components in promoting retention within the nursing workforce.