Emergency Department Nursing Burnout and Resilience

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Occupational Health
• Psychology

Background:

• Burnout is a significant issue in emergency nursing, leading to higher turnover rates.
• Emergency nurses are particularly vulnerable due to traumatic events, irregular schedules, and workplace violence.
• The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated stressors for emergency department (ED) nurses.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify the primary causes of burnout among emergency department nurses.
• To discuss effective strategies for enhancing resilience in ED nurses.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature review was conducted.
• Studies published between 2015 and 2019 in academic journals were searched across multiple databases (MEDLINE, CINAHL, etc.).
• Sixteen relevant studies focusing on ED nurse burnout and resilience were included.

Main Results:

• Key factors contributing to burnout include demanding work schedules, shift work, workplace violence, and insufficient management support.
• Characteristics of resilient ED nurses include self-discipline, optimism, and goal-oriented behaviors.
• Burnout rates among ED nurses are notably high.

Conclusions:

• Specific interventions can effectively combat burnout and foster resilience in emergency nursing.
• Management support and targeted educational initiatives are crucial for supporting ED nurses.
• Addressing factors like shift work, trauma exposure, violence, and management support is vital for nurse well-being.