Abstract

Background: Burnout among healthcare professionals is a growing concern, particularly in high-stress specialties. Community psychiatric nursing is recognized as an area with elevated stress levels due to the nature of the work and patient demographics. This study aims to compare the prevalence and severity of burnout between community psychiatric nurses and public health nurses (PHNs) engaged in less intensive services.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted involving 300 nurses: 150 community psychiatric nurses and 150 PHNs working in various other health services. The Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) was utilized to measure burnout levels, focusing on emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. Additional factors such as work environment, support systems, and job satisfaction were also evaluated.

Results: The results indicated a significantly higher incidence of burnout among community psychiatric nurses compared to their counterparts in other public health services. Specifically, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization scores were markedly elevated in the psychiatric group. Factors contributing to these results included longer working hours, higher patient acuity, and perceived lack of support in the psychiatric nursing group.

Conclusion: The study underscores the need for targeted strategies to mitigate burnout among community psychiatric nurses. These could include enhanced support systems, training for stress management, and organizational changes to address workload and resource allocation. The findings highlight the necessity for healthcare systems to recognize and address the unique challenges faced by nurses in high-stress specialties to ensure their well-being and the quality of patient care.