Job burnout and its influencing factors among newly graduated nurses: A cross-sectional study

Burnout affects the quality of work and health of newly graduated nurses, increases the turnover rate among newly graduated nurses and leads to a shortage of nurses. Reducing job burnout among newly graduated nurses is critical. However, the factors that impact burnout among newly graduated nurses are currently not well known.

This exploratory study aims to identify the factors that influence burnout among newly graduated nurses in China.

We conducted a cross-sectional study of newly graduated nurses from 15 cities in 13 provinces in China. We used online questionnaires to conduct the survey and obtain the results in this study. A STROBE checklist was used to report the results.

Of the 2400 questionnaires distributed, 2071 (86.29%) were returned. Job satisfaction, professional rank, hospital level, professional values and core competence were negatively correlated with burnout, while negative emotions were positively correlated with burnout. Women were more prone to burnout than men.

Burnout among newly graduated nurses was divided into three dimensions based on the Maslach Burnout Inventory Scale. Our findings provided new evidence that newly graduated nurses had average levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalisation and low levels of personal accomplishment. Job satisfaction, professional rank, hospital level, gender, professional values, negative emotions and core competence were predictors of job burnout among NGNs in China.

Nursing managers should pay attention to burnout management, standardise training about professional values, core competence and coping mechanisms and promote mental health and job satisfaction among newly graduated nurses.