Mediating effect of job performance between emotional intelligence and turnover intentions among hospital nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic: A path analysis

Background: Nursing shortages are a persistent and concerning problem for the nursing workforce world-wide. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought additional stressors and workloads and has wors-ened nursing shortages.Aim: To investigate interrelationships among emotional intelligence, job performance, and turnover in-tentions of nurses during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, and explore the mediating effect of job performance between emotional intelligence and turnover intentions.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. In total, 673 nurses working in a medical centre hos-pital in northern Taiwan were recruited from November 2020 to April 2021. An anonymous questionnaire was used in this survey. Data were collected using a seven-item turnover intention scale, a 16-item emo-tional intelligence scale, a 24-item job performance scale, and demographic questions. A path analysis was performed. This study was based on STROBE guidelines.Findings: Statistically significant correlations between turnover intentions and emotional intelligence ( r = -0.10, p = 0.012), between turnover intentions and job performance ( r = -0.13, p = 0.002), and between emotional intelligence and job performance ( r = 0.54, p < 0.001) were detected. Model fit in-dices were adequate. Job performance had a significant indirect effect between emotional intelligence and turnover intentions (beta = -0.16, p = 0.011). Discussion: It was found that job performance was a mediator between emotional intelligence and turnover intentions during the pandemic. The study results support the need to continue to create healthy work environments.Conclusion: These results can assist hospitals in developing specific evidence-based interventions such as showing appreciation and providing acknowledgments to reduce turnover of their nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic.(c) 2022 Australian College of Nursing Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd.