Nurse Burnout and Health: Exploring the Connection

Abstract

Burnout is a prevalent issue among nurses, with significant implications for organizational, mental, and physical health. This article explores the interconnection between these three facets of burnout, presenting findings and implications for each area in the context of nursing. Burnout is commonly assessed using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), which measures emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Numerous factors contribute to nurse burnout, including workload, moral distress, inadequate support, and workplace violence. Protective factors against burnout include social support, resilience, and spiritual well-being. Chronic stress associated with burnout impairs immune, cardiovascular, neuroendocrine, and central nervous systems, increasing susceptibility to various diseases. Studies using the MBI have found significant associations between high burnout levels and poor mental health outcomes, such as stress, anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Physical health consequences of burnout include elevated salivary cortisol levels, reduced influenza vaccine efficacy, increased short-term sick leave, and engagement in risky health behaviors. Resilience has been shown to mediate the relationship between burnout and mental health. The authors emphasize the need for healthcare organizations to implement multifaceted approaches to address burnout, including resilience training, self-care promotion, and creating supportive work environments. Prioritizing these strategies can mitigate the detrimental effects of burnout on nurses' health and well-being, ultimately improving patient care and organizational outcomes.