Exploring Loneliness and Burnout in Nephrology Nurses: A Mixed-Methods Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Psychology

Background:

• Nurse well-being is crucial for healthcare quality.
• Rising burnout rates in nursing, especially in demanding fields like nephrology.
• Loneliness as an under-researched factor potentially contributing to nurse burnout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate nurse loneliness as a factor in burnout among nephrology nurses.
• To explore the prevalence and correlation of loneliness and burnout in this population.
• To understand the lived experiences of nephrology nurses concerning loneliness and burnout.

Main Methods:

• Mixed-methods approach utilizing quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews.
• National sample of 217 nephrology nurses.
• Data collection included workforce demographics, burnout, and loneliness measures; interpretive descriptive analysis for qualitative data.

Main Results:

• Low rates of burnout were observed in the study population.
• Burnout positively correlated with reported loneliness among nephrology nurses.
• Qualitative findings identified organizational/systemic pressures, recognition, peer support, work environment, and well-being as key components influencing loneliness and burnout.

Conclusions:

• Nurse loneliness is a relevant factor associated with burnout in nephrology nursing.
• Systemic and organizational factors significantly impact nephrology nurses' experiences of loneliness and burnout.
• Interventions targeting organizational support and work environment may mitigate loneliness and burnout, enhancing nurse well-being.