Healthy Settings in Hospital – How to Prevent Burnout Syndrome in Nurses: Literature Review

• Main Authors: Irena Kovačević, Boris Ilić, Mirna Žulec, Valentina Krikšić, Cecilija Grgas Bile, Adriano Friganović
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Sestre Milosrdnice University hospital, Institute of Clinical Medical Research 2017-01-01
• Series: Acta Clinica Croatica
• Subjects: Burnout, professional – prevention and control; Nurses; Risk factors; Stress, psychological; Fatigue syndrome, chronic
• Online Access: http://hrcak.srce.hr/file/274975
• ISSN: 0353-9466; 1333-9451

Healthy settings involve a holistic and multidisciplinary method that integrates actions towards risk factors. In hospital settings, a high level of stress can lead to depression, anxiety, decreased job satisfaction and lower loyalty to the organization. Burnout syndrome can be defined as physical, psychological and emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and low sense of personal accomplishment. The aim of this literature review was to make systematic literature analysis to provide scientific evidence for the consequences of constant exposure to high levels of stress and for the methods to be used to prevent burnout syndrome among health care workers. The Medline database was searched to identify relevant studies and articles published during the last 15 years. The key words used in this survey were burnout syndrome, prevention, nurses, and healthy settings. The 6 eligible studies were included in literature review. Evidence showed nurses to be exposed to stress and to have symptoms of burnout syndrome. As a result of burnout syndrome, chronic fatigue and reduced working capacity occur, thus raising the risk of adverse events. In conclusion, the occurrence of burnout syndrome is a major problem for hospitals and healthcare system. Action plan for hospital burnout syndrome prevention would greatly reduce the incidence and improve the quality of health care.