Exploring the Relationship Between Perceived Visual Access to Nature and Nurse Burnout

Area of Science:

• Environmental psychology
• Occupational health
• Nursing research

Background:

• Nurse burnout is a significant issue with links to stress and nature exposure.
• Further research is needed on the connection between nature and nurse burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between perceived visual access to nature and burnout in nurses.
• To explore how nature views impact Emotional Exhaustion, Depersonalization, and Personal Accomplishment.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 51 nurses in a tertiary care hospital.
• Used Maslach Burnout Inventory subscales as outcome variables.
• Examined perception of nature views, organizational stressors, and environmental design as explanatory variables.

Main Results:

• Perceived nature views and organizational stressors were significant predictors of Emotional Exhaustion (37% variance).
• Nature views, stressors, and environmental design predicted Depersonalization (43% variance).
• No significant relationship found with Personal Accomplishment.

Conclusions:

• Perceiving nature views can be an intervention for burnout, alongside relaxation techniques.
• Hospital unit and breakroom design incorporating nature views can serve as a preventive measure against burnout.