Nurse managers' knowledge of staff nurse burnout

WCU Author/Contributor (non-WCU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Kristy Lynn Stewart (Creator)
Institution
Western Carolina University (WCU )
Web Site: http://library.wcu.edu/
Advisor
Linda Comer

Abstract: Nursing burnout affects the nurse’s home and work life and can lead to serious physical and emotional symptoms as well as patient dissatisfaction and increased nursing turnover. With a shortage of nurses expected to increase to 30% across the state of North Carolina by the year 2020, it is imperative we prevent further loss to burnout. An educational needs assessment was conducted via a mailed survey to determine the current knowledge of nurse managers employed in hospitals in North Carolina regarding causes of burnout and methods of burnout prevention and reversal for staff nurses. The responses of 214 nurse managers allowed the identification of their level of knowledge about staff nurse burnout. Through comparison with published knowledge about the subject, the educational needs of the managers are apparent. The findings of this research can inform the provision of appropriate education for nurse managers, leading to reduced burnout in staff nurses, a reduction in the nursing shortage, and improved quality of patient care. The burnout information least known by nurse managers is evidence-based knowledge and theoretical knowledge is better known. The findings reveal a positive correlation between nurse manager’s total knowledge and age, years as nurse manager, and level of education completed. The greatest knowledge need is in the area of environmental causes of staff nurse burnout.

Additional Information

Publication
Thesis
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
burnout, nursing, stress
Subjects
Nurses -- Job stress
Burn out (Psychology)

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