Background: The organization of French medical institutions is changing, and nursing personnel may encounter difficulties in adapting to these changes. The results of two questionnaires in the PRESST/NEXT study on to working conditions (questionnaires “Q0” and “Q12”), sent with an interval of a year to a sample of nurses, were compared. Methods: There were three samples: a sample of 5376 nurses who answered the initial questionnaire (Q0); a sample of 2627 nurses who answered the questionnaire sent one year later (Q12), working in the same establishment; and a group of 208 nurses who answered the questionnaire “Qex,” specific to nurses who left their establishment. Results: Among nurses who answered the “Qex” questionnaire, approximately one-fifth chose to leave the profession definitively or temporarily before retirement age; among these, almost 13% began new work outside the healthcare sector. Seven factors have an important relationship to decisions to leave the profession: dissatisfaction regarding professional prospects (Q0: OR = 3,1 and Q12: OR = 2,82); difficulties meeting family responsibilities (Q0: OR = 1,36 and Q12: OR = 2,10); mental health disorders for nurses, some not addressed medically (Q0: OR = 1,76 and Q12: OR = 1,47) and some addressed medically (Q0: OR = 1,90 and Q12: OR = 1,77); dissatisfaction about psychological support available at work (Q0: OR = 1,57 and Q12: OR = 1,87); fatigue (Q0: OR = 1,40 and Q12: OR = 1,6); musculoskeletal disorders diagnosed by a doctor (Q0: OR = 1,32 and Q12: OR = 1,61); dissatisfaction about the use of their skills (Q0: OR = 1,27 and Q12: OR = 1,97). Conclusion: These results raise questions about the benefits of new management practices which promote flexibility in work and schedules, and which reduce the possibilities of support within nursing teams. This management style implies uncertainty for nurses about the technical aspects of their work, and a lack of time for training and patient follow-up.