Affiliation:
1. Health Care Administration Department, University of Wisconsin Eau Claire , Eau Claire, Wisconsin , USA
2. School of Public Administration, Southwest Jiaotong University , Chengdu, Sichuan , China
Abstract
Abstract
Background and Objectives
The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between dimensions of grief support (recognition of the relationship, acknowledgement of the loss, and inclusion of the griever) and aspects of burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment) among nursing home staff.
Research Design and Methods
Data were collected from 553 nursing home workers from 37 nursing home facilities in 5 states during fall of 2022. Responses to the Maslach Burnout Inventory and Grief Support Health Care Scale were analyzed for this study.
Results
The study found that recognizing the relationship with deceased patients led to a decrease in exhaustion and depersonalization among workers while simultaneously enhancing their sense of personal accomplishment. Including the griever in the support process lowered all burnout subscales for nursing home staff. Acknowledging the loss was associated with higher levels of personal accomplishment. Registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and physicians experienced higher levels of exhaustion and depersonalization compared to other nursing home staff. Behavioral health workers had the highest personal accomplishment, whereas direct support workers reported the lowest.
Discussion and Implications
These findings have important implications for improving the well-being of nursing home staff, emphasizing the importance of organizational grief support, and tailored interventions to address burnout among different healthcare provider roles in nursing homes.
Funder
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire Student-Faculty Research
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)