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Abstract Background This study aimed to investigate the turnover intention among nurses in eastern China and explore the association between turnover intention and personal characteristics, family factors, and work-related factors. Methods A total of 2504 nurses participated in a cross-sectional survey administered in 26 hospitals in Eastern China from October to November 2017. In December 2021, a survey was conducted on nurses who resigned between December 2017 and November 2021. Results The turnover intention score of in-service nurses was 15 (12–17), and 43% of nurses had a high turnover intention, which was mainly due to the following reasons: age 1 child, low income, involuntary career selection, frequent night shifts, informal employment, part-time, and high job stress are significant factors associated with nurses’ willingness to leave. Government and hospital administrators should consider ways to address these factors to retain nurses in hospitals in eastern China and improve the quality of nursing services.