A national study of job satisfaction and burnout among perfusionists

A national qualitative survey of perfusionists to assess their level of job stress, career satisfaction, and burnout in various organizational settings was performed. The hypothesis for this study is incorporated into the following research questions. First, is there an association between job satisfaction and burnout among perfusionists? Second, is there an association between level of burnout and intention to leave their job or profession among perfusionists? Third, is there a difference in job satisfaction and burnout across different organizational affiliations of perfusionists? Invitations to participate in the survey were sent by electronic mail to the 1478 AmSECT members with an e-mail address. To categorize perfusionists, the Phase Model of the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was used. It is based on the Maslach Model, but extends it by suggesting the order of severity in which persons experience burnout. Two hundred eighty-three responses were received, with the following results. As burnout increases, job satisfaction decreases. As burnout pressure increases from low to high, it is associated with a greater intention of perfusionists to leave their jobs for a lateral move or demotion within 6 months. There is insufficient evidence to show a difference between employee satisfaction and burnout based on organizational affiliation. The perfusionists who answered the inquiry seem to be clear about their role at work, to have adequate resources, and to feel they are treated fairly by supervisors. Organizational climate, communication, training, participation, trust, and culture are evaluated positively. Although the respondents considered interdepartmental communication adequate, higher management or corporate communication is portrayed as needing improvement. When the MBI scores are divided into the eight phases and then compressed into the three subphases, 42% of the perfusionists surveyed are categorized as low burnouts, 20% of the perfusionists as moderately burned out, and 38% were in the high burnout group. It will be important to use this information as a benchmark and follow the profession as it changes over the next few years.