[Burnout among psychiatric nurses in a private, psychiatric hospital]

The purpose of this study was to explore and describe aspects which cause and promote burnout amongst psychiatric nurses. Participants were purposively selected and individual focus interviews were recorded on tape. Certain themes were identified during data analysis and based on that the following conclusion were reached: an external locus of control leads to feelings of "stuckness"; high personal standards lead to psychiatric nurses making themselves available in the work environment with subsequent negative effects on themselves; psychiatric nurses take too much responsibility and become indifferent or overly involved (co-dependent) due to vague boundaries leading to feelings of fatigue, apathy and loss of motivation; lack of support and a need of recognition in the work environment lead to emotional fatigue; a too heavy workload, staff shortage and an uncertainty regarding role description in the work environment leads to feelings of fatigue, negativity, "stuckness", anger and apathy.