NEPHROLOGY NURSING AND BURNOUT SYNDROME

Abstract

This prospective and exploratory study was carried out in the nephrology department of a high-capacity hospital in Minas Gerais between August and December 2010, with the objectives of investigating the scale of burnout syndrome and identifying and evaluating the risk factors related to its occurrence. The sample was made up of sixty nursing professionals and the data was collected via a semi-structured instrument and the Maslach Burnout Inventory, and analyzed from its dimensions. Two healthcare professionals (2.3% of the sample) had a diagnosis of Burnout Syndrome. Thirteen (22%) had one altered dimension, and 43 (71.6%) presented no altered dimensions of burnout. Sex, schooling, work hours, length of time at the institution and lack of another employment link were considered possible risk factors for the syndrome. Early detection contributes to limiting the harm which results from the syndrome, and contributes to the worker’s quality of life.

Keywords

• Professional exhaustion
• Nursing
• Nephrology
• Epidemiology