The Correlation Between Effort–Reward Imbalance at Work and the Risk of Burnout Among Nursing Staff Working in an Emergency Department—A Pilot Study

<b>Background</b>: Nurses in emergency rooms face high levels of psychological stress during their work, which is why they have an increased risk of burnout. The aim of this pilot study was to determine the extent to which effort-reward imbalance (ERI) at work is connected to the risk of burnout among emergency nurses. <b>Methodology</b>: Thirty-five nurses from the central emergency department of a maximum care provider, aged 35.1 ± 0.6 years, voluntarily participated in this pilot study. ERI was recorded using the Effort-Reward Imbalance questionnaire. The nurses were then divided into two groups: the nonrisk group (ERI ratio < 1, <i>n</i> = 19) and the risk group (ERI ratio ≥ 1, <i>n</i> = 16). The burnout dimensions were determined via the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and the burnout risk was then determined. <b>Results</b>: Nurses in the nonrisk group were significantly less emotionally exhausted (1.6 ± 1.1 points) and had a lower overall risk of burnout (MBI total score 1.2 ± 0.67 points) than the nurses of the risk group. (3.3 ± 1.5 and 2.2 ± 1.2 points, respectively). Eighteen nurses from the total sample had a medium or high risk of burnout. There is a correlation between the risk of burnout and the ERI ratio (r = 0.392, <i>p</i> < 0.05) and the ERI scale "job promotion" (r = -0.462, <i>p</i> < 0.05). <b>Conclusions</b>: The pilot study provides indications of a relationship between effort-reward imbalance at work and burnout risk in emergency nurses. These findings may improve rewards for nurses in the form of increased salary and/or recognition to reduce the risk of burnout among employees and avoid turnover. Further research is needed to investigate the influence of preventive measures on the risk of burnout and gratification crises, particularly with regard to the influence of status and recognition on the risk of burnout.