Burnout in nursing professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Introduction: Occupational stress is the result of the way an individual deals with the demands of work and faces challenges. Numerous sources can generate stress, affecting the individual level of stress experienced by nurses. The pandemic has exacerbated these issues, given the clinical breadth of the SARS-CoV-2 infection. Coping with critical situations, such as those caused by COVID-19, can expose nurses to exhaustion of their psychological resources, increasing stress levels and potentially culminating in BURNOUT Syndrome (BS). Objectives: To analyze the predictors of BS in nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. To identify predictors associated with BS among nurses in this context. Develop strategies to prevent BS during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: This research consists of a descriptive, exploratory and qualitative literature review. Papers published between 2020 and 2023 were included, with keywords such as Nurse, Covid-19, Psychological Exhaustion and BURNOUT in their abstracts. The sample included nine scientific articles, five from the SCIELO database, two from LILACS and two from PUBMED. Results: The main predictors found in this study were work overload, impaired social interaction, among others. A table was drawn up indicating the main measures in BS prevention strategies, such as multi-professional support, reduced working hours, psychological support, financial benefits, comfortable housing, training and refresher workshops. In addition to these strategies, it is crucial that nurses act in a welcoming manner, using their professional knowledge to identify early signs and symptoms of BS, referring professionals for specialized treatment. Conclusion: The importance and relevance of research on this topic is emphasized, providing subsidies for new studies and broadening discussions on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on nurses' mental health. It is imperative that, based on this knowledge, interventions are proposed that can reduce the devastating impacts on the mental health of nurses involved in caring for patients in a pandemic context.