title: Practice environment, job satisfaction and burnout of critical care nurses in South Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the practice environment, job satisfaction and burnout of critical-care nurses (CCNs) in South Africa (SA) and the relationship between these variables.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  CCNs are more sensitive to job satisfaction and burnout, and several studies have been published on the relationship between these variables. However, the research that was undertaken did not focus exclusively on the practice environment of CCNs or the context of SA.
  
  
  METHODS
  The RN4CAST survey was used. A stratified sample of 55 private hospitals and seven national referral hospitals were included in the study. A total of 935 CCNs completed the survey.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The practice environment is positive, except for staffing and resource adequacy, and governance. The greatest job dissatisfaction is experienced with regard to wages, opportunities for advancement and study leave. CCNs have a high degree of burnout.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high degree of burnout is related to dissatisfaction with wages, opportunities for advancement, study leave and a practice environment with inadequate staffing and resources, and lack of nurse participation in hospital affairs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Managers should ensure that adequate numbers of CCNs are on the staff allocation and provide opportunities for CCNS to participate in policy and governance of the hospital, while giving attention to good salaries and providing opportunities for advancement and study leave.
authors: School of Nursing Science, North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa.
authors: Hester C
authors: HC
authors: Klopper
authors: Siedine K
authors: SK
authors: Coetzee
authors: Ronel
authors: R
authors: Pretorius
authors: Petra
authors: P
authors: Bester
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002055:Burnout, Professional / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D003422:Critical Care / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007588:Job Satisfaction; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses / Q000523:psychology*; D009729:Nursing; D011594:Psychometrics; D012307:Risk Factors; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D017132:Workplace / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult