Burnout and turnover intentions among nurses in intensive care settings : a moderated-mediated relationship

Abstract

Nurses are the linchpin of healthcare systems globally, yet a growing deficiency threatens the effectiveness of these systems. This shortage is particularly impactful in the intensive care sector, where the inherently stressful and demanding nature of the role often results in burnout and subsequent turnover intentions. To address this issue, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between burnout and turnover intention among ICU nurses, with a theoretically driven focus on the mediating role of general mental health and the moderating influence of personality. The research targeted 120 nurses in two intensive care units in a Maltese hospital, using self administered questionnaires to measure burnout status, mental health status, personality, and turnover intention. In order to measure burnout, the researcher opted to utilize the Burnout Assessment Tool instead of the Maslach Burnout Inventory due to significant concerns associated with the latter. Other instruments included the General Health Questionnaire, the Positive Affectivity and Negative Affectivity Scale, and the Turnover Intention Scale. These questionnaires provided the necessary data for an in-depth exploration of the research questions. The study revealed a significant correlation between the burnout dimensions and turnover intention, indicating that higher burnout levels increase the likelihood of intention to leave job. However, contrary to the initial hypotheses, general health did not mediate the relationship between burnout and turnover intention. Additionally, neither positive nor negative affectivity significantly moderated this relationship. These findings underscore the complex interplay between burnout, turnover intentions, general mental health, and personality traits among ICU nurses. The study had severalstrengths, including a comprehensive literature review, a theoretically driven hypotheses development and a clear research design. It also faced limitations such as a response rate of 45%, the complexity of measuring emotional states, and the novel use of the Burnout Assessment Tool in burnout measurement. The research confirmed the strong link between burnout and turnover intentions and contributes towards better understanding of the dynamics in the field. Indeed, it suggests that future research should adopt longitudinal methodologies, include qualitative methods, and aim for a broader sample size while being aware of potential biases. Additionally, given that the Burnout Assessment Tool is a more recent developed tool, relative to the widely used Maslach Burnout Inventory, it is suggested that future research conducts a simultaneous comparative study using these two instruments. Such a method would provide valuable insights and potentially enhance the comprehension of burnout in future studies. In summary, the critical relationship between burnout and turnover intentions among ICU nurses, as explored in this study, has substantial implications. Given the relentlessly high-stress and emotionally demanding environment of intensive care units, the psychological health of these nurses becomes indispensable, as it directly impacts the quality of patient care outcomes.