Aim <p>In Germany, the need for care will rise significantly. However, most nurses want to retire before reaching the official retirement age. The preferred retirement age is a critical factor of the retirement decision. This study examines contributing factors of the preferred retirement age and reasons for early retirement preference of older nurses.</p> Methods <p>Interview data from the fourth wave 2022/2023 of the representative German lidA cohort study was analyzed (N_nurses = 418). Proportions, including 95 %-confidence interval (CI) of twelve reasons for an early exit preference were investigated. Linear regression models were used to investigate the effects of personal and work-related factors of nurses’ preferred retirement age.</p> Results <p>The majority (70.6 %) preferred to retire early. The most significant reason for this preference was the desire for more leisure time (79.3 %). A higher age, better health, lower household income, long-term care settings, job satisfaction (B = 0.68, 95 %-CI = 0.38; 0.99) and job involvement (B = 0.68, 95&#xa0;%-CI = 0.22; 1.15) were positively associated with nurses’ preferred retirement age. Whereas physical strain (B = -0.36, 95 %-CI = -0.65; -0.08) and psychosocial&#xa0;stress (B = -0.65, 95 %-CI = -0.94; -0.37) were negatively associated with the outcome.</p> Conclusion <p>Our results highlight the need for healthy and stimulating work conditions that fit with nurses’ life circumstances. Besides the widely recognized physical and psychosocial work-related burdens, organizations should prioritize creating favorable conditions for job satisfaction and involvement. This is essential to motivate these urgently needed professionals to remain longer.</p>