Prevalence and risk factors for burnout, missed nursing care, and intention-to-leave the job among intensive care unit and general ward nurses: A cross-sectional study across six European countries in the COVID-19 era

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the prevalence of burnout, missed nursing care, and intention-to-leave the job among nurses working in general care units and intensive care units (ICUs), and to analyse the risk factors for these outcomes between the two groups.

Design: This was a cross-sectional study involving online surveys of nurses at participating hospitals conducted between November 2020 and July 2021 as part of the Magnet4Europe initiative.

Setting and participants: A convenience sample was recruited, consisting of 67 acute care hospitals in 6 countries: Belgium, England, Germany, Ireland, Norway, and Sweden. In total, data for 1,150 ICU nurses and 5,145 general ward nurses (1,901 from surgical wards and 3,250 from medical wards) were analysed.

Results: The prevalence of burnout was significantly lower among nurses in ICUs (27.1 % vs. 30.3 %), missed care from care was significantly less frequent (65.5 % vs. 75.4 %), while intention-to-leave was similar (28.1 % vs. 29.2 %) compared with nurses in general wards. Nurses working in a better work environment and with lower workloads had statistically significant lower rates of burnout and intention-to-leave their job compared to those working in a poorer work environment and with higher workloads. Country-specific analysis showed a higher burnout rate and the intention-to-leave the job for nurses working in Germany, Ireland, Scandinavia, and the England compared to Belgium.

Conclusions: ICU nurses did not have a higher risk of burnout and had significantly lower risks of missing care and intention-to-leave, compared to nurses in general wards. A better work environment and lower perceived workload were consistently associated with reduced risks for all outcomes studied.

Implications for clinical practice: National policies should prioritize creating healthy work environments, reducing workloads, and addressing country-specific challenges to lower burnout rates, minimize missed care, and decrease the intention to leave the job among ICU and general ward nurses.

Keywords: Burnout Professional; Critical care; Intention-to-leave; Missed Care; Nurses; Nursing Staff; Personal Turnover; Workload.