Emergency Nurses’ Well-Being in Magnet Hospitals and Recommendations for Improvements in Work Environments: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Abstract

IntroductionThis study aimed to determine the well-being outcomes and quality of work environment among emergency nurses compared with inpatient nurses working in Magnet hospitals and identify recommendations in emergency department work environments that hold promise for enhancing emergency nurses’ well-being. MethodsThis is a cross-sectional analysis of multicenter survey data collected in 2021 from 11,743 nurses practicing in 60 United States Magnet hospitals. Nurses report on burnout, job dissatisfaction, intent to leave, work environment, and recommendations to improve well-being. ResultsEmergency nurses are significantly more likely to report high burnout (P = .04), job dissatisfaction (P < .001), and intent to leave (P < .001) than inpatient nurses working in the same Magnet hospitals. Emergency nurses are significantly more likely to report insufficient staffing (P = .001), an unfavorable work environment (P < .001), and lack confidence that management will act to resolve problems in patient care (P < .001) but did report significantly better working relationships with physicians (P < .001) than their inpatient counterparts. The 2 greatest recommendations to improve well-being included improving nurse staffing (91.4%) and the ability to take uninterrupted breaks (86.7%); the lowest-ranked recommendations were employing more advanced practice providers (25.9%) and appointing a wellness champion (21.2%). DiscussionHigh burnout and other adverse nurse outcomes are common among emergency nurses in Magnet hospitals. Modifiable features of ED work environments including inadequate nurse staffing, inability of nurses to take uninterrupted breaks, and lack of responsiveness of management to persistent problems in patient care warrant high priority attention by Magnet hospital leaders.