Nursing is a demanding profession that requires nurses to provide high-quality care while managing a heavy workload and complex patients while keeping up with a healthcare system that is constantly changing. All these factors put together can take a toll on nurses and result in burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion and reduced personal accomplishment. Nurse burnout has been linked to several adverse outcomes, which can have significant implications for the nurse and the patient. This essay will address the following research question: What are the causes and consequences of nurse burnout, and how can it be addressed? Relevant, high-quality sources will be used to answer this research question and provide insights into the factors, implications, and strategies to overcome nurse burnout.
Nurse burnout is a complex phenomenon that results from a combination of factors. Job demands are one of the primary contributors to burnout. Nurses who work long hours, face high patient loads, and deal with emotionally demanding situations are at a higher risk of experiencing burnout. Van der Heijden et al., 2019 found that job demands such as increased workload, time pressure, and insufficient resources were significant predictors of nurse burnout. These factors typically result from poor facility management, which can stem from a lack of support from colleagues and supervisors. Tucak & Macuka, 2021 demonstrated that nurses who do not have control over their job and do not receive adequate social support are more likely to experience burnout. This lack of support can leave nurses feeling isolated and unsupported, increasing their risk of developing burnout. According to Lee et al., 2020 compassion satisfaction, working hours per week, and marital status, among other factors, were also contributors to burnout among nurses. It is plausible that nurse burnout can have significant implications for both nurses and patients.
Nurse burnout has significant implications for the healthcare system, with its effects being felt by patients, healthcare organizations, and nurses. One of the ways nurse burnout impacts patient care is through poor sleep quality and decreased relaxation, which can result in reduced vigilance and attention to detail, compromising patient safety. As Gillet et al., 2020) noted, nurses experiencing burnout are more likely to make errors in medication administration, miss important patient information, and provide less effective care. Nurse burnout also affects nurses’ ability to provide compassionate care, which is essential for building therapeutic patient relationships. Lee et al. 2020 found that nurses experiencing burnout had decreased compassion satisfaction and increased compassion fatigue, which led to a lack of empathy and emotional exhaustion. This can make nurses less attentive to patients’ needs, negatively impacting the patient experience. In addition to the effects on patient care, nurse burnout has economic implications for healthcare organizations. Burnout is associated with increased absenteeism and staff turnover, leading to staffing shortages and decreased organizational performance. According to Tucak & Macuka, 2021, high job demands, low job control, and low social support are predictors of burnout, which can result in staff leaving the organization. Staff turnover can be costly for healthcare organizations, as they must spend time and resources recruiting and training new staff, which can impact patient care. To address nurse burnout, healthcare organizations can implement various strategies that have been proven effective.
Nurse burnout is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach to address its causes and consequences. Organizational interventions, individual coping strategies, and supportive work environments are crucial in preventing and managing nurse burnout. Tucak & Macuka, 2021 suggest that job control, social support, and job demands significantly predict job satisfaction and burnout in Croatian palliative care nurses. Providing nurses with more control over their jobs, adequate resources, and social support can help prevent burnout and create supportive work environments. Additionally, training nurses in coping strategies, such as mindfulness and relaxation techniques, can help them manage job demands more effectively and reduce the risk of burnout (Gillet et al., 2020). In addition to organizational and individual interventions, promoting self-care among nurses is also crucial in preventing and managing burnout. Nurses must prioritize their physical and emotional well-being to avoid burnout (Lee et al., 2020). Practicing self-care can include engaging in healthy activities outside of work, setting boundaries, and seeking support when needed.
References
Gillet, N., Huyghebaert-Zouaghi, T., Réveillère, C., Colombat, P., & Fouquereau, E. (2020). The effects of job demands on nurses’ burnout and presenteeism through sleep quality and relaxation. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 29(3-4), 583-592, DOI: 10.1111/jocn.15116.
Lee, H., Baek, W., Lim, A., Lee, D., Pang, Y., & Kim, O. (2020). Effects of Compassion Satisfaction, Compassion Fatigue, and Stress on Burnout of Nurses: The Korea Nurses’ Health Study. Compassion Fatigue, and Stress on Burnout of Nurses: The Korea Nurses’ Health Study (3/28/2020).
Naceur, A., & Zriba, N. (2015). Burnout and coping in the perspective of job demands-control-support model among nurses. Psychology, 6(14), 1841.
Tucak Junaković, I., & Macuka, I. (2021). Job demands, job control, and social support as predictors of job satisfaction and burnout in Croatian palliative care nurses. Arhiv za higijenu rada i toksikologiju, 72(3), 225-231, DOI: 10.2478/aiht-2021-72-3556
Van der Heijden, B., Brown Mahoney, C., & Xu, Y. (2019). Impact of job demands and resources on nurses’ burnout and occupational turnover intention towards an age-moderated mediation model for nursing. International journal of environmental research and public health, 16(11), 2011, doi:10.3390/ijerph16112011.
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