11% of nurses across the country would like to leave the profession. However, this figure rises to 39% amongst nurses who are working alternating shift systems, which mix day, evening and night shifts. It was found that many nurses preferred one type of shift most of the time, whether that involved working early, late or through the night. Employers should urgently review staffing arrangements to avoid the compulsory, alternating patterns. This would make nurses' working hours more compatible with their social and family lives. A further benefit would be a reduction in the cost of training new nurses to replace those leaving.