How Humor Use by Nurse Supervisors, Reduced Time Pressure, and Years in the Profession Jointly Reduce Nurse Turnover Intention

Aim: To investigate how humor use by nurse supervisors, reduced time pressure, and years in the profession jointly reduce nurse turnover intention. Background: Nurses encounter various workplace stressors that cause negative outcomes. Humor use among nurse supervisors is known to help form cohesive relationships and reduce job burnout. However, it is unclear how this humor use by nurse supervisors can help reduce nurse turnover intention. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional design and collected a sample representative of a medical center. Our research was conducted in a Taiwanese medical center from October to November 2023. Proportionate random sampling was used to survey and obtain valid responses from 534 registered nurses. Regression analyses were performed to test the model. The STROBE statement was chosen as the EQUATOR checklist. Results: Humor use by nurse supervisors was negatively related to nurses’ turnover intention, and such humor use mitigated the relationship between years in the profession and reduced turnover intention among nurses. Conclusion: Our study took the lead in examining when and how cautious humor use by nurse supervisors can help reduce nurse turnover intention. Such humor use helps reduce turnover intention among novice nurses. Implications for Nursing Policy: Nursing policymakers could consider enhancing nurse supervisors’ skills in using humor to help maintain a competent nursing workforce.