Staff burnout and staff turnover on inpatient wards

Abstract

This chapter examines a range of personal, organizational, and contextual causes of occupational stress affecting inpatient mental health nurses, and offers a range of potential interventions which may help to reduce stress and burnout, and improve staff retention. It examines the consequences of burnout, its effects on patient care, and the situational factors which contribute to stress. It goes on to explore supportive factors which reduce burnout in nurses and to outline interventions and potential organizational responses which could improve the resilience of the workforce and support retention of staff and high standards of care.