Preventing Nurse Burnout

About this course

Nurse burnout is described as a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that often stems from sustained work-related stressors, including long work hours, the pressure of quick decision-making, job- related dissociation, low sense of accomplishment, and the strain of caring for patients who may have poor outcomes. At some point during their careers, approximately 70% of nurses will report feeling exhausted and burned out. Nurse burn out does not solely affect the nurse’s emotions and health. It also affects the patients’ well-being, and the quality of care that they receive. This course provides an overview of nurse burnout, and strategies to assist the nurse in managing stressors to reduce the risks of nurse burnout from occurring.

Learning objectives

• Identify causes of nurse burnout
• Review the stages of nurse burnout
• Implement effective strategies to reduce the risks of burnout
• Compare the differences of compassion fatigue and Nurse burnout

Course outline

13 sections · finish in any order across devices

1. 1

   Introduction

   Nurse burnout is a common problem. In fact, at some point during their careers, approximately 70% of nurses will report feeling exhausted and burned out. ¹ Nurse burnout does not solely affect the nurse’s emotions and health. It also affects the patients’ well-being, and the quality of care that the

   4 min

2. 2

   Burnout

   The term burnout was first used in the 1970s to describe the emotional and physical stress experienced by those who worked in helping professions, such as nursing. Today, nurse burnout is described as a state of mental, physical, and emotional exhaustion that often stems from sustained work-related

   4 min

3. 3

   Five Stages of Burnout

   Burnout can affect anyone, at any time in their lives. Symptoms of burnout can vary, and below is a list of common stages ¹˒³:

   4 min

4. 4

   Symptoms of onset of stress include

   The third stage of burnout is chronic stress. In this stage there is a notable change in stress levels, fluctuating from motivation to an increased frequency of experiencing stress.

   4 min

5. 5

   Symptoms of chronic stress include

   Burnout occurs in stage four. In this stage, symptoms become critical and is exhibited by an inability to cope.

   4 min

6. 6

   Symptoms of habitual burnout include

   Compassion Fatigue vs BurnoutCompassion fatigue is also called “vicarious traumatization” or secondary traumatization, and describes the physical, emotional, and psychological impact of helping others, often through experiences of stress or trauma. ² It occurs most commonly among professionals who w

   4 min

7. 7

   Causes of Burnout

   Some of the greatest causes for burnout amongst nurses are chronic lack of sleep and chronically being overworked. ⁵ These are caused by physical and emotional exhaustion and are particularly common for nurses who work long hours (usually 12 hours or more) and consecutive shifts. Shift rotations (wo

   4 min

8. 8

   Signs of Burnout

   It is important to recognize the signs of burnout. If nurses are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to make some changes to reduce stress levels and avoid burnout ¹˒³˒:

   4 min

9. 9

   Dangers of Burnout

   Nurse burnout is a big concern for nurses, employers, and patients. Nurses themselves are at risk for developing depressive disorders and other mental health conditions, and for quitting their job. For employers a decrease in the quality of patient care can affect their reputation and finances. For

   4 min

10. 10

    Solutions

    Fortunately, it is possible to prevent nurse burnout before it occurs, and to treat it immediately when it happens. ⁵ A nurse should request for a schedule that allows them enough personal time to create a work/life balance. An employer should support the nurse by providing adequate breaks while wor

    4 min

11. 11

    Conclusion

    Nurses may experience burnout because of a variety of reasons. Some of the most common reasons for nurse burnout include long work hours, sleep deprivation, working in a high-stress environment, lack of support, and emotional strain from patient care. In order to reduce the risk for burnout, the nur

    4 min

12. 12

    Preventing Nurse Burnout Posttest

    The nurse should consider seeking professional help when feelings of burnout do not resolve.

    4 min

13. 13

    Preventing Nurse Burnout Posttest Answers

    It is important to recognize the signs of burnout. If nurses are experiencing any of the following symptoms, it may be time to make some changes to reduce stress levels and avoid burnout:

    4 min

This course satisfies

Requirement summaries come from our state requirement records. Always confirm details with your board before you renew.

References and resources

• Are you on the road to burnout? The 5 stages of burnout — Health InfoCast. (2021, November 22). Health InfoCast.
• DuBois, A. L., & Mistretta, M. A. (2019). Compassion fatigue. Overcoming Burnout and Compassion Fatigue in Schools, 59-76.
• Kelly, L. A., & Adams, J. M. (2018). Nurse leader burnout: How to find your joy. Nurse Leader, 16(1), 24-28.
• Overcome compassion fatigue and burnout. (2017). Journal of Nursing & Healthcare, 2(2).
• Wang, S., Liu, Y., & Wang, L. (2013). Nurse burnout: Personal and environmental factors as predictors. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 21(1), 78-86.

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