Protecting emergency room nurses from burnout: The role of dispositional mindfulness, emotion regulation and empathy

AIM

To verify the role of dispositional mindfulness, difficulties in emotion regulation and empathy in explaining burnout levels of emergency room (ER) nurses.

BACKGROUND

Many studies have examined the variables that can affect burnout amongst ER nurses, but little is known about factors that can protect ER nurses against work-related stress.

METHOD

A multi-centre cross-sectional design was used. Burnout level intensity, dispositional mindfulness facets, difficulties in emotion regulation and empathy dimensions were assessed using valid and reliable self-report questionnaires in a sample of ER nurses (N = 97) from three different hospitals.

RESULTS

Higher dispositional mindfulness and cognitive empathy levels and lower difficulties in emotion regulation, were negatively associated with emotional exhaustion levels.

CONCLUSION

ER nurses with more mindful, emotion regulation and empathy skills are more able to manage work-related distress.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT

Experiential interventions to promote mindfulness skills, emotion regulation variability and flexibility in a clinical context and the cognitive side of empathy are recommended for ER nurses to reduce professional distress, and to enhance personal and work satisfaction. Future research should assess the effectiveness of new multi-factorial interventions which combine the development of mindfulness, emotion regulation and empathy skills in ER nurses.

Analysis of Factors Affecting Psychological Resilience of Emergency Room Nurses Under Public Health Emergencies

Resilience is essential for frontline health workers to cope with the unfavorable situations, especially under public health emergencies. Emergency room (ER) nurses are a special cohort of health professionals that may present moderate level of resilience. This study aimed to identify factors that are correlated with resilience in this special cohort to provide directions for intervention and management. ER nurses that have encountered a public health emergency within 3 months were recruited using purposive sampling and snowball technique for the study. Questionnaires, including Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), and Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) were established, followed by an in-depth interview to identify different clusters of themes. Thirteen ER nurses were recruited, and the average CD-RISC score was 66 ± 21. Resilience was negatively correlated with SDS index, and positively correlated with personal accomplishment. Five clusters of themes were identified from in-depth interviews, including physical tolerability, psychological tolerability, tenacity of internal drive, institutional implementation, and external adjustment. This study identified factors associated with resilience in ER nurses under public health emergencies, providing useful information for future directions for intervention.