[Nurses with and without burnout: a comparison. Results of a quantitative longitudinal study and a qualitative depth...

In 1995 a number of 2000 nurses received a questionnaire twice in a time scale of six months. Besides demographic variables the questionnaire measured nurses' scores on burnout, job characteristics, personality and coping behavior. In a more subject related way the phenomenon burnout was additionally examined in a qualitative study with 10 nurses. Nurses with low scores on burnout had a job with the following characteristics: low strain levels due to time pressure and responsibility, sufficient scope of action and little control, sufficient feedback and recognition, good relationships within the team and between doctors and nursing staff, satisfying working hours, sufficient wage rates and sufficient offers for job formation. In addition, nurses with low scores on burnout show a significantly stronger sense of coherence than their colleagues with high scores on burnout. There is also a trend for more idealism and will to help in this group. When there are problems in the job these nurses more often use instrumental modes of coping in a successful way than nurses with high scores on burnout.