Unpaid overtime and inflexible working arrangements are among the main reasons nurses and midwives leave the Irish health service, a new report says.
The study, based on questionnaires completed by more than 1,000 non-practising nurses and midwives, also blames physical and mental exhaustion caused by inadequate staffing levels, high staff turnover, increased responsibility, and lack of managerial support.
However, a majority of those questioned also cited poor pay as a reason they were no longer involved in the profession.
The report - "An examination of non-practising qualified nurses in the Republic of Ireland and an assessment of their intentions and willingness to return to practice" - was commissioned jointly by the Irish Nurses' Organisation and the Health Services National Partnership Forum.
The research aimed to explain factors including the existence of 1,000 vacancies for nursing and midwifery posts, and the health service's reliance on more than 4,000 nurses from overseas.
The full report will be published today. But speaking in advance of its release, INO general secretary Mr Liam Doran said the "stark" findings would confirm that nurses and midwives "continue to bear unacceptable workloads as they strive to maintain standards".
The report would also strengthen the INO's pre-budget submission urging a range of initiatives to address the "chronic" shortage of nurses and midwives, he added.
Mr Doran said a conference later this week would hear the findings of an international study which showed that nurses and midwives suffer "higher levels of burn-out and job dissatisfaction than any other profession", and that inadequate staffing levels were among the main reasons for people leaving.
