Study of the Effect of COVID-19 on Nurses’ Job Burnout and its Consequences

Abstract

Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses experience a high workload and stressful psychological stimuli that affect their mental and emotional health, which may lead to burnout symptoms. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effect of COVID-19 on nurses’ job burnout and investigate its consequences. Methods: The present study is an applied descriptive study, and data collection was performed using surveys. The study was conducted on 107 nurses working in Shahid Mohammadi and Khalij-e-Fars hospitals of Bandar Abbas, Hormozgan. The level of job burnout was measured using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory (OLBI), job satisfaction by Job Satisfaction Questionnaire, and depression by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The data were analyzed via structural equation modeling by PLS 3 software. Results: Overall, the mean job burnout level was higher than the average (3.45). The results, at the 95% confidence level and the significance value of>1.96, showed that poor organizational resources and traumatic events have a direct and significant effect on nurses’ job burnout; however, the impact of workload on job burnout was not confirmed. The results also showed that nurses’ job burnout has a direct and significant relevance with depression, job dissatisfaction, and low quality of care. Conclusion: Poor organizational resources and traumatic events increased job burnout. Job burnout increased depression, and also reduced job satisfaction and quality of care. Situational and personal factors have a significant role in decreasing nurses’ job burnout. It is necessary to provide a better work environment, good intrapersonal relationships, and personal skills training courses.