A Cross-Sectional Study Exploring Nurse Burnout and Satisfaction With the Electronic Health Record

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Informatics
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Nurse burnout is a pervasive problem impacting the nursing workforce.
• Administrative burdens are linked to burnout, yet improvement strategies are scarce.
• Electronic Health Records (EHR) are a significant part of the nursing work environment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between nurse burnout and satisfaction with the Electronic Health Record (EHR).

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2018 among 950 nurses in Alabama, USA.
• Data collected included nurse burnout levels, EHR satisfaction, and work environment factors.
• Multiple regression models were used to analyze the relationships between variables.

Main Results:

• Nurse satisfaction with the EHR, the nurse work environment, and years of experience were significant predictors of work-related burnout.
• These factors explained 20%-34% of the variation in nurse burnout.
• Higher EHR satisfaction was associated with lower levels of burnout.

Conclusions:

• Electronic Health Records (EHR) satisfaction is a potential actionable area for organizations to address nurse burnout.
• Modifying EHR systems and improving user satisfaction may contribute to reducing nurse burnout.
• Further research is needed to confirm these findings and explore intervention strategies.