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. 2021 Jan 22;16(1):e0245798.
doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0245798. eCollection 2021.

The relationship between workload and burnout among nurses: The buffering role of personal, social and organisational resources

Elisabeth Diehl  1 , Sandra Rieger  1 , Stephan Letzel  1 , Anja Schablon  2 , Albert Nienhaus  2   3 , Luis Carlos Escobar Pinzon  1   4 , Pavel Dietz  1
Affiliations

The relationship between workload and burnout among nurses: The buffering role of personal, social and organisational resources

Elisabeth Diehl et al. PLoS One. .

Abstract

Workload in the nursing profession is high, which is associated with poor health. Thus, it is important to get a proper understanding of the working situation and to analyse factors which might be able to mitigate the negative effects of such a high workload. In Germany, many people with serious or life-threatening illnesses are treated in non-specialized palliative care settings such as nursing homes, hospitals and outpatient care. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the buffering role of resources on the relationship between workload and burnout among nurses. A nationwide cross-sectional survey was applied. The questionnaire included parts of the Copenhagen Psychosocial Questionnaire (COPSOQ) (scale 'quantitative demands' measuring workload, scale 'burnout', various scales to resources), the resilience questionnaire RS-13 and single self-developed questions. Bivariate and moderator analyses were performed. Palliative care aspects, such as the 'extent of palliative care', were incorporated to the analyses as covariates. 497 nurses participated. Nurses who reported 'workplace commitment', a 'good working team' and 'recognition from supervisor' conveyed a weaker association between 'quantitative demands' and 'burnout' than those who did not. On average, nurses spend 20% of their working time with palliative care. Spending more time than this was associated with 'burnout'. The results of our study imply a buffering role of different resources on burnout. Additionally, the study reveals that the 'extent of palliative care' may have an impact on nurse burnout, and should be considered in future studies.

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Conflict of interest statement

I have read the journal’s policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: The project was funded by the BGW - Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege (Institution for Statutory Accident Insurance and Prevention in Health and Welfare Services). The BGW is responsible for the health concerns of the target group investigated in the present study, namely nurses. Prof. Dr. A. Nienhaus is head of the Department for Occupational Medicine, Hazardous Substances and Health Science of the BGW and co-author of this publication. All other authors declare to have no potential conflict of interest. This does not alter our adherence to PLOS ONE policies on sharing data and materials.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1. Moderator effects of ‘workplace commitment’ on quantitative demands and burnout relationship.
Fig 2
Fig 2. Moderator effects of ‘good working team’ on quantitative demands and burnout relationship.
Fig 3
Fig 3. Moderator effects of ‘recognition from supervisor’ on quantitative demands and burnout relationship.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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