EXPLORING THE DETERMINANTS AND IMPACT OF PROFESSIONAL BURNOUT IN ICU NURSING STAFF

Abstract

Background: Nurses working in high-intensity environments such as critical care units are often exposed to prolonged stress, leading to professional burnout. Organizational support and workload management are key factors influencing the well-being and performance of nurses. Aim: This study aimed to assess the relationship between workload factors, burnout levels, and organizational support among nurses in critical care settings. Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted among 208 nurses working in intensive care and critical care units. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire comprising validated scales for measuring workload factors (WF), burnout (BO), and organizational support (OS). Kaiser-Meyer-Olkin (KMO) and Bartlett’s Test of Sphericity confirmed the suitability of data for factor analysis. Pearson correlation was used to explore relationships among variables. Results: The sample consisted of 69.2% females and 30.8% males, with the majority aged between 20–30 years. Most participants were single (73.1%) and held a diploma in nursing (41.8%). KMO values ranged from 0.554 to 0.868, and Bartlett’s test was significant (p < 0.001) for all variables. Correlation analysis showed a significant positive relationship between WF and BO (r = 0.322**), WF and OS (r = 0.362**), and BO and OS (r = 0.446**), indicating interdependence among these factors. Conclusion: The findings highlight that workload and organizational support are significantly associated with burnout among nurses. Effective workload management and supportive work environments are essential to mitigate burnout in critical care nurses.