The Effects of Nurse Burnout on Patient Experiences

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This study explored the strategies leaders can adopt to reduce the emotional exhaustion, lack of personal fulfillment, and depersonalization that characterize nurse burnout. The problem identified was continued nurse burnout resulting from long shifts most days of the week and fatigue due to lack of rest, affecting the quality of patient care and nurses’ overall health and wellness. The proposed solution implemented the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) tool with SBAR communication to measure nurses’ workload, assess their emotional exhaustion, and assign shifts accordingly. The implementation process focused on developing the necessary leadership practices to help reduce nurse burnout. This involved obtaining approval from the appropriate authorities to implement the strategies. Literature on evidence-based approaches was reviewed to incorporate lessons learned from other institutions into the process to gain deeper insight. A meeting was then scheduled with all stakeholders to identify and understand how the strategy would impact the work environment. Leader empowerment practice policies were then created to help implement the changes in the organizational culture. A two-week training session educated nurses about the adverse effects of burnout, the tools available to monitor burnout, and empowering practices that can facilitate change. The project evaluation revealed successes such as increased collaboration and cooperation among stakeholders and lessons learned that can inform future projects.