Stress, Burnout and Coping Mechanisms in Nursing During Health Crises: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Background: The role of nurses in health is critical but in times of health crisis i.e., the current pandemic, they encounter several challenges. Nurses are living these heavy workloads, they lack resources to support them, and they are emotionally strained, which leads to huge amounts of stress and burnout. These problems affect not only the well-being of these individuals, but also compromise patient care and workforce sustainability.
Aim: The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the prevalence and contributing elements of stress and burnout in nurses during health crises, and to evaluate coping mechanism used. It also makes evidence-based recommendations for improving nurses' mental health and supporting the health care systems.
Method: A comprehensive literature search was searched on PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, CINAHL, PsycINFO for studies from 2020 to 2024. Ten studies were selected for inclusion. Study characteristics, contributing factors, coping strategies and outcomes were extracted from data. This was followed by a synthesis and thematic presentation of findings, within PRISMA guidelines.
Results: This review concludes that health crises lead to high prevalence of stress and burnout among nurses due to increased workloads, fear of being infected and lack of institutional support. Stress management programs, mindfulness, and social support were all effective in retaining an appropriate coping style. Leadership support was identified as a critical control in preventing burnout. Burnout affected patient care and workforce sustainability in a significant way, calling for systematic interventions.
Conclusion: During health crises, urgent attention must be paid to stress and burnout among nurses. Improving resilience and guaranteeing workforce sustainability depends on structured interventions, leadership training and culturally relevant approaches. This article highlights the dire need for future research and evidence-based policies to support nurses in the occurrence of future crisis.