Caring behaviors of burn nurses and the related factors

This study aims to explore and describe nurses' perceptions of their caring behaviors and related factors in several Tehran burn units. Grounded theory was used as the method of analysis. Thirty-eight participants were recruited. Data was generated by unstructured interviews and participant observations, and analyzed by constant comparison. Results revealed that responses to burnout and the type of caring behavior exhibited were affected most markedly by the personal characteristics of nurses and patients and the interaction between these two factors. Long-standing and intense organizational pressures in the burn units of Tehran, in addition to the sensitivity of nurses' characteristics to these pressures, suggest that attributing more importance to the social, political and ethical aspects of caring may aid in executing stress reduction programs and improving nurses' morale.