Factors Affecting Burnout in ICU Nurses

Park, Hyoung Sook; Kim, Kyoung Nam

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting professional burnout in intensive care unit (ICU) nurses. METHOD: Data were obtained through questionnaires from 240 ICU nurses working in hospitals of 500 beds or more in two cities in South Korea. Data analysis was done with t-test, ANOVA, Scheffe test, Pearson correlation coefficients and multiple stepwise regression with SPSS WIN 14.0. RESULT: Work stress was positively correlated with level of professional burnout and there was a negative correlation between hardiness and professional burnout. Social support was negatively correlated with level of professional burnout. Hardiness had a positive correlation with social support and a negative correlation with work stress. The explained variances for burnout was 44.7% and factors affecting professional burnout in the ICU nurses' were work satisfaction, work stress, social support, and hardiness.
CONCLUSION
The findings indicate that high levels of stress coupled with low levels of hardiness and social support in ICU nurses result in high levels of professional burnout. Reducing work stress and the level of professional burnout in ICU nurses and increasing work satisfaction can be done by enhancing the mediating factors of hardiness and social support through educational efforts and nursing and administrative support.