Nurses' job burnout after the first peak of COVID-19 in Northeast China: a descriptive study

Abstract

Abstract Background: Since November 2022, China has continuously optimized and adjusted its prevention and control measures to achieve a smooth transition in the prevention and control of the epidemic in a relatively short period of time, and successfully passed the first wave of the COVID-19 epidemic. The purpose of this study was to investigate nurses' job burnout and its influencing factors after the first peak of COVID-19 in Northeast China. Methods: 1350 frontline nurses in Northeast China were surveyed online through a questionnaire, including a general information questionnaire,Maslach Burnout Inventory-General Survey(MBI-GS), Simplified Coping Style Scale(SCSQ), and Perceived Social Support Scale(PSSS). The final effective response was 1328, with an effective response rate of 98.37%. Results: 47.44% of nurses in Northeast China experienced job burnout after the first peak of COVID-19. The risk factors for job burnout are persistence in work and night shifts during self infection (OR: 1.342,95% CI: 1.002-1.798). The protective factors are that there are no elderly people in the family who need to take care of themselves (OR: 0.669,95% CI: 0.510-0.878), no patients who need to be cared for every day (OR: 0.574,95% CI: 0.363-0.908), or 3-5 patients who need to be cared for (OR: 0.560,95% CI: 0.381-0.823), financial support (OR: 0.766,95% CI: 0.604-0.971), psychological support (OR: 0.550,95% CI: 0.409-0.742), and family assistance (OR: 0.427,95% CI: 0.324-0.564). Job burnout is negatively correlated with perceived social support, and positively correlated with coping styles. Conclusions: Nurses in Northeast China experienced moderate job burnout after the first peak of COVID-19. Managers should make adequate preparations for the arrival of a new COVID-19 peak according to the influencing factors of nurses' job burnout.