Burnout and Its Related Risk Factors: A Comparison Study of Nurses Working in Two Different Wards

Abstract

Background: Nursing is a physically and emotionally demanding job, making nurses highly susceptible to burnout. Burnout is associated with many deleterious consequences affecting health care outcomes. Objectives: We aimed to evaluate and compare burnout and its associated risk factors in nurses working in 2 different wards: operating rooms and surgical wards. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted on 100 operating room nurses and 100 surgical ward nurses at Vali-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Data collection instruments included a demographic questionnaire and Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22. Results: Overall, the burnout score in surgical ward nurses was 69.22, while it was 67.97 in nurses working in operating rooms (P = 0.449). Scores of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment subscales in nurses of surgical wards were 54.66, 81.16, and 71.85, respectively. These rates for operating room nurses were 53.02, 80.44, and 70.47, respectively; however, these differences were not statistically significant. There was a significant correlation between working shifts and burnout (P = 0.002). Satisfaction with income was significantly associated with the working environment (P = 0.047). Conclusions: The levels of burnout were high in nurses in both operating rooms and surgical wards. Due to nurses' pivotal role in the health system, identifying burnout and eliminating its causes are highly crucial.