Finding the Sweet Spot: Exploring Nurse Practitioner Job Satisfaction, Burnout and Resilience

Area of Science:

• Nursing
• Healthcare Management
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Nurse practitioners (NPs) report high burnout rates, impacting patient care and retention.
• Limited understanding exists on how NPs manage practice stressors and work-life balance.
• Burnout, job satisfaction, and resilience are critical factors in NP well-being.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore how hospital-based nurse practitioners navigate practice and mitigate work-life stressors.
• To investigate the experiences of NPs concerning burnout, job satisfaction, and resilience.
• To identify strategies NPs use to maintain well-being in demanding healthcare environments.

Main Methods:

• A constructivist grounded theory approach was employed.
• Data were collected from 10 hospital-based nurse practitioners.
• Qualitative data analysis identified key themes in NP experiences.

Main Results:

• Three central themes emerged: 'making a difference…keeps me going,' 'finding the sweet spot,' and 'being the safety net.'
• These themes highlight the importance of purpose, balance, and supportive roles in mitigating stressors.
• NPs utilize intrinsic motivation and adaptive strategies to cope with workplace challenges.

Conclusions:

• A supportive work environment is crucial for NP well-being.
• Collaborative efforts involving colleagues, educators, and leaders are necessary to address workplace tensions.
• Targeted interventions can help promote resilience and reduce burnout among nurse practitioners.