Defining Characteristics of Burnout in Nursing
Poor Workplace Communication
The first characteristic concerning burnout in nursing, which should be discussed, is the worsening situation with communication with colleagues and bosses. The nurse who experiences burnout will significantly reduce the desire to qualitatively collaborate with others (National Academy of Medicine, 2020). It is essential to underline that in this state, healthcare workers lose the willingness to work productively and fulfill their responsibilities by solving the major tasks collectively.
Noteworthy, this characteristic’s specification has a direct connection with its causes. According to Waddill-Goad (2023), “burnout is a problem of the social environment in which they work” (p. 364). Therefore, if the working environment causes burnout in nursing, one of the first characteristics of this state will be nurses’ negative attitude towards it. Due to this, the nurse will be prone to conflicts with their colleagues, worsening the situation in the entire working environment. This behavior may lead to adverse consequences such as the nurse’s isolation and, in regard to the boss’s actions, the firing of a nurse.
Absence of Professional Growth and Learning Possibilities
For many people, it is crucial to stay in a variety of places and to constantly develop their skills to have the opportunity to grow and move on in their careers. The healthcare sphere should provide a qualitative working environment to avoid burnout in nurses and allow them to grow professionally and obtain new skills (Waddill-Goad, 2023). As the characteristic of the absence of the issues mentioned above, the nurse can lose interest in their position. The feeling of being stacked in one place without an opportunity to develop themselves is this state’s first major adverse issue (National Academy of Medicine, 2020). Consequently, it influences depression and reduces productivity in nurses.
Personal Problems and the Lack of Time Outside the Work
The following characteristic of burnout in the healthcare sphere is the loss of interest in work because of the need for more time for nurses for their private lives. Notably, every person wants to be successful not only in their career but also in their personal life. Having a good family, communicating enough with their kids, taking care of their parents, and having time for friends are essentials that a person has a right to have (Waddill-Goad, 2023).
Therefore, due to the lack of time caused by the additional work and professional responsibilities, burnout among nurses has a high chance of occurring. As these factors are characterized by these characteristics, these factors cause characteristics. One should stress the impossibility of nurses concentrating on their work process (National Academy of Medicine, 2020). Various problems which arise in nurse’s personal life and need to be solved conquer their thoughts and the ability to devote themselves to work.
As a result, this burnout characteristic highlights aspects of nurses’ behavior such as lack of attentiveness, inability to work in a team, absence of fulfillment of professional duties, and others (Waddill-Goad, 2023). This characteristic is also crucial because additional stressors from personal life can significantly adversely influence nurses’ health and well-being, combined with a worsening situation in the workplace.
Worsening of the Provided Healthcare
The fourth characteristic of burnout is closely connected to and caused by the above-discussed issues. One should state that the entire spectrum of burnout’s consequences in nursing will influence not only the working environment in which the nurse works. Even more negative outcomes will occur regarding patient care and the quality of provided healthcare services (Waddill-Goad, 2023). For example, specific situations of nursing work assume constant and qualitative communication with patients.
Remarkably, such healthcare theories as Jean Piaget’s methods of communication with patients to obtain vital data to establish a rational treatment assume a significant level of concentration and devotion of nurses (National Academy of Medicine, 2020). In a state of burnout, the main characteristics are opposite and cause the nurse to be unable to provide patients with successful treatment. Moreover, as Waddill-Goad (2023) states, “professional consequences may include absenteeism, job hopping, poor relationships with others…” (p. 367). It highlights that nurses can express their dissatisfactions and fears caused by burnout through communication with patients.
Summary
Burnout in nursing is a common adverse effect of this profession and has various negative consequences. Many factors can influence the development of this state and may worsen the situation. Among the foremost crucial aspects of burnout, one should name the hostile working environment, the lack of opportunities for self-development, low payments, significantly high workload, personal problems, and the lack of time to solve them.
Moreover, it should be highlighted that not only personal and organizational losses may cause burnout in nurses. Many sources define the term burnout in the workplace differently, but they all connect it with such characteristics as the lack of energy and enthusiasm while fulfilling professional duties. Among additional points that impact the nurses’ depression, productivity, and, consequently, burnout state is rewarding, which are both financial and non-financial. As a result, the above-mentioned issues should be considered profoundly while taking action regarding improving working conditions for nurses.
References
National Academy of Medicine. (2020). Taking action against clinician burnout: A systems approach to professional well-being. National Academies Press.
Waddill-Goad, S. (2023). Beyond burnout, second edition: Overcoming stress in nursing & healthcare for optimal health & well-being. Sigma Theta Tau International.