Relationship Between Emotional Exhaustion and Job Satisfaction among Nurses

Background: Emotionally exhausted employees tend to have unfavorable relationships with coworkers and the organization. It has been shown that emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction are highly relevant factors for performance in various organizational settings. This study aims to determine the relationship between job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion among nurses working at a psychiatric hospital. Method: A descriptive correlational study is conducted from December 2023 to May 2024. In a non-probability (purposive sample), 190 nurses were selected from hospitals in the Baghdad/Al-Rusafa Health Directorate and the Medical City Directorate. Nurses who work in psychiatric units were selected purposefully for this study. The chosen questionnaire consists of three parts. The first is the patient's socio-demographic characteristics, the Job Satisfaction Survey (JSS), and the third is the Emotional Exhaustion subscale (EE). Results: This study shows that the average participants' age was 30.25 ± 8.7 years, and the majority (53.7%) were female and held a diploma degree (48.9%) in nursing science. They have moderate levels of emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. The job satisfaction survey results indicate that all dimensions of the subscale's items show moderate satisfaction. A statistical analysis reveals a significant inverse correlation between emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction among Nurses at a p-value of .0002. Conclusions: There is a significant relationship between emotional exhaustion and job satisfaction. These results suggest that emotional exhaustion is a key factor contributing to reduced job satisfaction and its various components, such as fringe benefits and the nature of work promotion. Recommendations: The study recommends effective interventions to address the negative impact of emotional exhaustion in the workplace, especially among new young employees. As such, organizations should prioritize implementing strategies that promote employee well-being and reduce burnout. This research contributes to understanding nurse experiences and needs, informing policies and practices that support their growth and well- being.