Contributing to a Healthier World: Exploring the Impact of Wellbeing on Nursing Burnout

Abstract

Nursing burnout is a challenge for both the nursing profession and healthcare organizations. While research on burnout in healthcare is robust, including its contribution to the absence of wellbeing, e.g., depression and anxiety; little is known about its association with positive dimensions of wellbeing, e.g., engagement and life meaning, which is what the current research aimed to address. A total of 146 practising nurses, mostly female (98%), aged M= 45.03, SD= 13.31 residing in the United States completed an online survey assessing their burnout on the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and wellbeing on the Mental Health Continuum and Workplace PERMA Profiler. Hierarchical multiple regression showed that after controlling for physical health, (1) wellbeing constructs explained various types of burnouts differently, (2) wellbeing, as measured by mental health continuum, did not predict work-related and client-related burnout, (3) the presence of positive emotions predicted lower levels of personal and work-related burnout; however, engagement was instrumental in predicting client-related burnout. The results highlight the need to measure positive outcomes using flourishing models of wellbeing. Furthermore, given that not all positive outcomes showed association with burnout, the research identified the need for nuanced approach to addressing burnout in nurses when using flourishing models. These findings can assist researchers and practitioners in further understanding of the impact of burnout on wellbeing and become a springboard for exploring the application of positive psychology interventions for reducing and preventing burnout and enhancing wellbeing.