Nursing Home Work Environment and Burnout Association in Registered Nurses and Nursing Assistants: A Cross-Sectional...

Growing demand for resident care has made it increasingly challenging for care workers (registered nurses and nursing assistants) to provide person-centered and high-quality care in nursing homes. Demanding working conditions, high workloads, and job-related stress increase burnout risk among care workers. Positive work environments have been associated with reduced risk of emotional exhaustion and improved quality of care.

This study assessed the nursing home work environment, risk of burnout in care workers, and explored their association. Additionally, the study examined whether professional role moderates this association.

A cross-sectional, multicenter study included survey data from 819 care workers across 54 Belgian nursing homes. Linear mixed models examined associations between the work environment and burnout risk in care workers, with additional analyses exploring the moderating role of profession.

A substantial proportion of care workers reported positive collegial relationships (86.3%) and foundations for quality care (86.8%), while 65.5% reported insufficient staffing and resources. Additionally, 23.4% were at high risk of emotional exhaustion, 19.9% of depersonalization, and 32.2% of reduced personal accomplishment. All work environment measures were negatively associated with emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and positively associated with reduced personal accomplishment. Significant findings were obtained regarding the moderating role of profession.

This study underscores the importance of improving the nursing home work environment. Implementing targeted interventions to enhance these elements could reduce burnout risk among care workers. While achieving adequate staffing levels is essential, the impact on care worker well-being may be limited without additional improvements in the work environment. Granting care workers decision latitude and involving them in nursing home affairs could foster a more supportive and participative nursing management.