Quiet quitting in nursing: a concept analysis

BACKGROUND: Quiet quitting is an emerging concept in human resource management and occupational psychology, defined as a form of psychological and behavioral withdrawal from work without formal resignation. In nursing, this phenomenon has gained attention due to its potential impact on workforce engagement, job satisfaction, and quality of patient care. Understanding and clarifying the concept of quiet quitting is important for developing effective managerial and supportive strategies aimed at prevention and intervention. This study aims to clarify the idea of quiet quitting in nurses. METHODS: A concept analysis was conducted using the Walker and Avant approach. A comprehensive review of literature was performed across the databases PubMed, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and CINAHL, employing keywords such as Nurses, Quiet Quitting, Nursing Staff, and Job Disengagement, without language restrictions, covering the years 2020 to 2025. RESULTS: A total of 129 articles and texts were initially identified, of which 16 met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed. The findings indicate that quiet quitting is characterized by reduced engagement, performing only minimum tasks, avoidance of additional responsibilities, and organizational indifference. Ultimately, these behaviors lead to decreased effort, motivation, and creativity, resulting in halted professional growth among nurses, increased turnover intention, reduced care quality, and job dissatisfaction. CONCLUSION: The concept analysis of quiet quitting reveals that this phenomenon reflects a decline in job commitment despite apparent employment retention, which can negatively impact care quality and organizational productivity. Recognizing its components is a critical step toward formulating effective managerial interventions to prevent its adverse consequences.