Introduction
Nursing is a health area characterized by a myriad of topics and issues. Nurses work with various people in diverse settings and employ concepts that each person may perceive differently from their life experiences. Therefore, health care providers must understand the specific meanings of words used in their practice. A concept analysis can help nurses determine definitions, purposes, and uses of concepts to make decisions appropriate for every case.
The Concept Analysis
Present the Concept
Nurses work directly with people and must communicate so that each party understands the implications behind distinct ideas. Dall’Ora et al. (2020) propose that features such as high job and psychological demands are associated with burnout in nursing. Burnout can affect both patient care and the providers of care (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). However, nurses may not always realize that they are experiencing burnout or how it can impact their practice. Therefore, one should develop the concept analysis of burnout to explore its general and nursing characteristics.
Determine the Purpose
Burnout can influence a nurse’s work, and it is important to determine whether it can be considered a diagnosis. In their article, Parker and Tavella (2021) mention a study that suggests a lack of clarity in distinguishing major depression from burnout. However, Parker and Tavella (2021) indicate that the latter shares several traits with one of the two depressive sub-types, non-melancholic depression. While the sub-type is a part of a clinical diagnosis, burnout does not seem to be one. Therefore, the purpose of the analysis is to fully comprehend the concept of burnout and its relation to one’s health.
Identify Uses
Burnout has several definitions and is used as both nouns and verbs. Merriam-Webster (n.d.) recognizes the concept as a lack of physical or emotional strength due to prolonged stress or frustration. The word can also refer to either an individual expressing the effects of drug abuse or the termination of operation, usually concerning rocketry (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). Burnout can mean the acts of destroying the property by fire or causing failure and exhaustion due to overwork or overuse (Merriam-Webster, n.d.). The concept is identified differently but seems to imply an ending of operating.
The concept of burnout has a similar meaning in considerable fields. The term was first introduced in 1974 to explain a loss of motivation and reduced commitment (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). Dall’Ora et al. (2020) mention that burnout occurs in response to emotionally demanding circumstances in work and life settings. Parental burnout is defined as a lengthy reaction to chronic and overwhelming parental stress (Griffith, 2020). In entrepreneurship, burnout refers to emotional fatigue, depersonalization, and decline of personal achievement (Omrane et al., 2018). In criminology, the concept is associated with lowered quality of life, cynicism, and employee absenteeism (Klinoff et al., 2018). Although connected to diverse areas, burnout is typically employed to describe high levels of stress that lead to poor performance.
Determine the Attributes
The definitions of burnout from psychological, parental, entrepreneurial, and criminology perspectives suggest three defining attributes. Burnout requires prolonged exposure to situations that cause high work overload (Merriam-Webster, n.d.; Parker & Tavella, 2021). Overwork leads to continuous stress represented by emotional exhaustion and a lack of internal resources (Dall’Ora et al., 2020; Omrane et al., 2018). Pressure provokes changes in behavior and attitudes and is associated with lowered quality of everyday performance (Dall’Ora et al., 2020; Klinoff et al., 2018). The attributes presented by overload, excessive stress, and changes in behavior characterize burnout as a process that can negatively affect many people.
Build a Model Case
” Casey is a registered nurse and works at a hospital. The hospital has been experiencing a staff shortage for several months, resulting in Casey often working overtime. She often had to skip launch breaks, sacrifice her sleeping schedule, and substitute for other employees. With time, co-workers have noticed that Casey became cynical towards the patients, reluctant to make decisions, and indifferent to everyday tasks. Casey’s family also witnessed that her cheerful personality changed, and she wanted to quit her job.”
The above model case demonstrates the three attributes of burnout. Casey has been overworking and lacking rest for a prolonged time leading to stress (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). Casey’s attitude towards work has changed as she became cynical and unconcerned (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). Moreover, her behavior outside the hospital has also altered, and she no longer wanted to work (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). The model case indicates that people must carefully manage burnout to prevent deteriorated mental health and control job turnover.
Build a Similar Case
“Cindy is a young woman who has recently given birth to her first child. Cindy has been on maternal rest for the past three months while her husband works. Cindy spends all her time with the child and does chores around the house. One day, Cindy tells her husband that she’s been tired. The husband realizes that Cindy needs more rest, as being a mother is demanding. They decide to hire a nanny to babysit their child a few times a week and reconsider their schedules to spend more time together.”
The above case illustrates one of the three attributes of burnout. Cindy’s husband recognized that she might have been exhausted before she started expressing symptoms of stress, which are emotional distancing and a sense of incompetency in parental burnout (Griffith, 2020). While the model case displayed signs that nurses should observe in themselves, a similar case shows a situation that health care providers should consider when assessing patients.
Build an Opposite Case
“Suzan has been a registered nurse for several years, and she loves her job. Sometimes, Suzan works overtime, but when she feels that she is becoming fatigued, she informs the management, and they find a substitution. Suzan provides care to every patient, but she prioritizes her health, knowing it can affect her work. Although they have hardships, all employees help and support each other.”
Identify the Antecedents and Consequences
The concept of burnout has specific antecedents and substantial consequences. Burnout is precedented by a lack of key resources at the workplace, organizational climate, the ambiguity of roles, and low levels of social support (Griffith, 2020; Omrane et al., 2018). Consequently, people can develop disorders associated with anxiety and depression, have conflicts, and experience psychosomatic symptoms, like chronic pain and high blood pressure (Griffith, 2020; Klinoff et al., 2018; Omrane et al., 2018). The antecedents cause stress, whereas the consequences can diminish mental and physical health.
Indicate the Empirical Methods
Several methods can measure burnout in settings such as the workplace and home. Burnout is primarily measured by the Maslach Burnout Inventory, assessing the key features of the concept (Parker & Tavella, 2021). Some studies also use the Professional Quality of Life Measure that views burnout as part of compassion fatigue (Dall’Ora et al., 2020). The Parental Burnout Inventory identifies parents at risk or experiencing burnout at home (Griffith, 2020). Each method can examine characteristics of burnout and assist in developing strategies to help people.
Conclusion
To summarize, the concept analysis of burnout demonstrates that it is used in many fields to determine the process of experiencing stress due to overwork that results in lower performance. Burnout can lead to negative changes in personality and conflicts at work and home. Although burnout is not a diagnosis, it can cause problems in one’s health that nurses must consider and predict while providing health.
References
Dall’Ora, C., Ball, J., Reinius, M., & Griffiths, P. (2020). Burnout in nursing: A theoretical review.Human Resources for Health, 18(1), 1-17. Web.
Griffith, A. K. (2020). Parental burnout and child maltreatment during the COVID-19 pandemic.Journal of Family Violence, 1-7. Web.
Klinoff, V. A., Van Hasselt, V. B., Black, R. A., Masias, E. V., & Couwels, J. (2018). The assessment of resilience and burnout in correctional officers.Criminal Justice and Behavior, 45(8), 1213-1233. Web.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Burnout. In Merriam-Webster’s Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary. Web.
Omrane, A., Kammoun, A., & Seaman, C. (2018). Entrepreneurial burnout: Causes, consequences and way out.FIIB Business Review, 7(1), 28-42. Web.
Parker, G., & Tavella, G. (2021). Distinguishing burnout from clinical depression: A theoretical differentiation template.Journal of Affective Disorders, 281, 168-173. Web.