Burnout in a surgical ICU team.
OBJECTIVE
Psychologically stressful situations, a physically demanding workload and a high requirement for technological skills can lead ICU caregivers to burnout. The aim of our study was to evaluate their level of burnout as well as the related factors.


METHODS
A self-administered anonymous questionnaire.


METHODS
A 20-bed surgical ICU in a university hospital.


METHODS
Nurse assistants, nurses.


METHODS
None.


RESULTS
Ninety-seven of 107 questionnaires (91%) were returned. Of the members of ICU nursing team, 28% showed a high level of burnout. They reported a number of concerns, and that they felt discomfort and suffering. There was a discrepancy between the factors felt to be important by them and those statistically related to the burnout. Among the reported concerns, only the lack of patients' co-operation, the organization of the service and the rapid patient turnover were independently associated with a high level of burnout. As many as 49% of the nursing team felt stressed.


CONCLUSIONS
Almost a third of the ICU nursing team showed a high level of burnout. The factors felt to be important may not be those related to burnout. Since the well-being of the nursing team is important for the quality of care, corrective actions against the related factors should be sought in order to alleviate the suffering.
Verdon
Melanie
M
Department of Anaesthesiology, Pharmacology and Intensive Care, Service of Intensive Care, Rue Micheli-du-Crest 24, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. melanie.verdon@hcuge.ch
Merlani
Paolo
P
Perneger
Thomas
T
Ricou
Bara
B
D002055:Burnout, Professional; D003422:Critical Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D010348:Patient Care Team; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce