Abstract
BackgroundHaemodialysis nurses form long term relationships with patients in a technologically complex work environment. Previous studies have highlighted that haemodialysis nurses face stressors related to the nature of their work and also their work environments leading to reported high levels of burnout. Using Kanters (1997) Structural Empowerment Theory as a guiding framework, the aim of this study was to explore the factors contributing to satisfaction with the work environment, job satisfaction, job stress and burnout in haemodialysis nurses.MethodsUsing a sequential mixed-methods design, the first phase involved an on-line survey comprising demographic and work characteristics, Brisbane Practice Environment Measure (B-PEM), Index of Work Satisfaction (IWS), Nursing Stress Scale (NSS) and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI). The second phase involved conducting eight semi-structured interviews with data thematically analyzed.ResultsFrom the 417 nurses surveyed the majority were female (90.9 %), aged over 41 years of age (74.3 %), and 47.4 % had worked in haemodialysis for more than 10 years. Overall the work environment was perceived positively and there was a moderate level of job satisfaction. However levels of stress and emotional exhaustion (burnout) were high. Two themes, ability to care and feeling successful as a nurse, provided clarity to the level of job satisfaction found in phase 1. While two further themes, patients as quasi-family and intense working teams, explained why working as a haemodialysis nurse was both satisfying and stressful.ConclusionsNurse managers can use these results to identify issues being experienced by haemodialysis nurses working in the unit they are supervising.
Highlights
Haemodialysis nurses provide care to patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) who require renal replacement therapy
The complexities of the role that are performed by these nurses along with organizational factors within the work environment have led to haemodialysis nurses experiencing high levels of burnout
The purpose of this study is to gain an understanding of the factors that contribute to job satisfaction, stress and subsequent burnout in haemodialysis nurses
Summary
Haemodialysis nurses provide care to patients with end stage kidney disease (ESKD) who require renal replacement therapy. Using Kanters (1997) Structural Empowerment Theory as a guiding framework, the aim of this study was to explore the factors contributing to satisfaction with the work environment, job satisfaction, job stress and burnout in haemodialysis nurses. With the tightening of health budgets, the nursing profession has been affected with job losses, pay cuts, decreased working conditions, replacement of nurses with unregulated, lower educated healthcare assistants, increased workloads, and increased stress [28]. These environmental factors affect the level of job satisfaction that a nurse can achieve [29]
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