Burnout in Nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand: A post-COVID Analysis

This study investigates burnout levels among nurses working in Aotearoa New Zealand after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study examines contributing factors to burnout by evaluating the factor structure of the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) within this population. A mixed methods approach was used, comprising a questionnaire battery completed by 361 nurses. The battery included the MBI-HSS, Perceived Stress Scale, Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, demographic questions, and two open-ended questions. The factor structure of the MBI-HSS was confirmed, with items clustering into three domains consistent with the original scale: emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and personal accomplishment. Key findings indicated that older nurses reported lower depersonalisation, less stress, and higher wellbeing. Nurses in emergency and trauma roles and those working rotating shifts exhibited higher depersonalisation. Increased weekly hours and morning shifts were linked to greater stress and lower wellbeing. Thematic analysis of open-ended responses revealed high workload, toxic workplace dynamics, and unrealistic patient expectations as key contributors to burnout. The findings suggest that the nurses, particularly younger nurses working in high-intensity and irregular shift environments, are at increased risk of burnout. Implications for practice include the need for targeted support for high-risk groups, recovery time, reduced workload, and manager training to support at-risk staff effectively. This research contributes novel data to the global literature, confirming the validity of MBI-HSS in a previously unstudied population and highlighting demographic and work-related factors associated with burnout. Te reo Māori translation Te Ānewa i Waenga i ngā Tapuhi e Mahi nei i Aotearoa New Zealand: He Tātaritanga i muri i COVID Ngā Ariā Matua Tā tēnei rangahau he tūhura i ngā taumata ānewa o ngā tapuhi e mahi nei i Aotearoa i muri mai i te mate urutā COVID-19. Nā te rangahau nei i tātari ngā pūtake o te ānewa, nā te aromātai i te anga pūtake o te Maslach Burnout Inventory–Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS) i roto i tēnei taupori. I whāia tētahi ranunga o ngā tikanga, ko te mea nui i whakamahia, he pūranga rārangi pātai, ā, 361 ngā tapuhi i whakautu. Kei roto i te pūranga ko te MBI-HSS, Perceived Stress Scale, ko Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale, he pātai mō te hangapori, me ētahi pātai whakautu tuwhera e rua. I whakaūngia te anga pūtake o te MBI-HSS, me te noho rāpoi o ētahi ao e toru i hāngai ki te āwhata taketake: te ruha kaha kare ā-roto, te nahenahe, me te ekenga taumata whaiaro. Ko ngā kitenga matua, he iti iho te nahenahe, te kōhuki me te teitei kē atu o te toiora o ngā tapuhi taipakeke. He kaha ake ngā tapuhi i ngā tūranga whawhati tata me ngā tūranga taurima ohorere ngaukino, me ērā i roto i ngā hāora pānukunuku te hunga i tino pāngia e te nahenahe. I kitea he hononga i waenga i ngā whakapikinga ake i ngā hāora ā-wiki, me ngā wā mahi i te atapō, ki te pikinga ake o te kohuki me te hekenga o te toiora. Nā te tātari tāhuhu o ngā whakautu tuwhera i hura he teitei rawa ngā mahi mā ia tangata, he wairua kino i te wāhi mahi, me ētahi tūmanako pōhēhē i waenga i ngā tūroro, ēnei katoa i noho hei pūtake mō te ānewa. Nā ngā kitenga ka puta te whakaaro, ko ngā tapuhi e mahi i roto i ngā horopaki tino taumaha ngā mahi, tino rerekē hoki ngā hāora me te panuku o aua haora, te hunga ka tino tūpono ki te tūraru o te ānewa, otirā mō ngā mea taitamariki he tino pērā. Ko ētahi o ngā mea hei tirotiro, me whakarite tautoko i āta whakahāngaitia pea ki ngā rōpū nui te tūraru, he wā mō te whakamatua, me whakaheke ngā utanga mahi mā ia tangata, me whakangungu hoki ngā kaihautū kia tautoko tika i ngā kaimahi ka whano pea ki te tūraru. Ka takoha tēnei rangahau i ētahi raraunga hou ki ngā tuhinga rangahau o te ao, me tana whakaū i te whāinga take o MBI-HSS i roto i tētahi taupori kāore i āta rangahaua i mua, me ngā pūtake o te wāhi mahi ka haere tahi me te ānewa.