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. 2019 Nov 21:18:57.
doi: 10.1186/s12912-019-0382-7. eCollection 2019.

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between burnout, absenteeism, and job performance among American nurses

Liselotte N Dyrbye  1 , Tait D Shanafelt  2 , Pamela O Johnson  3 , Le Ann Johnson  3 , Daniel Satele  4 , Colin P West  1
Affiliations

A cross-sectional study exploring the relationship between burnout, absenteeism, and job performance among American nurses

Liselotte N Dyrbye et al. BMC Nurs. .

Abstract

Background: Studies suggest a high prevalence of burnout among nurses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between burnout among nurses and absenteeism and work performance.

Methods: A national sample of U.S. nurses was sent an anonymous, cross-sectional survey in 2016. The survey included items about demographics, fatigue, and validated instruments to measure burnout, absenteeism, and poor work performance in the last month.

Results: Of the 3098 nurses who received the survey, 812 (26.2%) responded. The mean age was 52.3 years (SD 12.5), nearly all were women (94.5%) and most were married (61.9%) and had a child (75.2%). Participating nurses had a mean of 25.7 (SD 13.9) years of experience working as nurse and most held a baccalaureate (38.2%) or masters of science (37.1%) degree in nursing. A quarter worked in the inpatient setting (25.5%) and the average hours worked per week was 41.3 (SD 14.1). Overall, 35.3% had symptoms of burnout, 30.7% had symptoms of depression, 8.3% had been absent 1 or more days in the last month due to personal health, and 43.8% had poor work performance in the last month. Nurses who had burnout were more likely to have been absent 1 or more days in the last month (OR 1.85, 95% CI 1.25-2.72) and have poor work performance (referent: high performer; medium performer, OR 2.68,95% CI 1.82-3.99; poor performer, OR 5.01, 95% CI 3.09-8.14). After adjusting for age, sex, relationship and parental status, highest academic degree, practice setting, burnout, depression, and satisfaction with work-life integration, nurses who were more fatigued (for each point worsening, OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.10-1.37) were more likely to have had absenteeism while those who worked more hours (for each additional hour OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-1.00) were less likely to have had absenteeism. Factors independently associated with poor work performance included burnout (OR 2.15, 95% CI 1.43-3.24) and fatigue (for each point of worsening, OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.12-1.33).

Conclusions: These findings suggest burnout is prevalent among nurses and likely impacts work performance.

Keywords: Absenteeism; Burnout, psychological; Job performance; Nurses; Presenteeism.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare that they have no competing interests

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Relationship between burnout and work performance
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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