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Review
. 2025 May 15.
doi: 10.1111/jan.17056. Online ahead of print.

A Conceptual Analysis of Psychological Burnout Among Nurses Providing Terminal Care

Sunjung Kim  1 , Sunghee H Tak  2
Affiliations
Review

A Conceptual Analysis of Psychological Burnout Among Nurses Providing Terminal Care

Sunjung Kim et al. J Adv Nurs. .

Abstract

Aim: To analyse the concept of psychological burnout among nurses in the context of terminal care.

Design: Concept analysis.

Methods: The study was conducted according to the eightstep conceptual analysis procedure suggested by Walker and Avant.

Data sources: Articles published in English or Korean between January 2014 and 2024 were reviewed in March 2024. A total of eight search engines were used for the literature review, including PubMed, Cumulative Index of Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and PsycINFO. A total of 19 articles were finally selected for the analysis based on criteria.

Results: The attributes of psychological burnout among nurses providing terminal care are depletion of energy, emotional numbness, disengagement, sense of powerlessness and emotional repression. Seven antecedents and six consequences of the concept were identified in this study.

Conclusion: The result of this study provides a foundation for the development of tailored interventions and further research related to the occurrence of psychological burnout among nurses providing terminal care. Additionally, considering the characteristics of terminal care, we suggest additional studies to confirm the attributes of burnout in this context across various cultural and religious backgrounds.

Implication for the profession and/or patient care: This study helps clarify the concept of psychological burnout among nurses in terminal care and informs the development of various interventions, educational programmes and related policies.

Patient or public contribution: No patients or public contribution.

Keywords: concept analysis; dying; exhaustion; nurse; psychological burnout; terminal care.

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