Date of Award

5-2026

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Departmental Honors

Department

Nursing

Abstract

Background: Nursing burnout has emerged as a critical issue within modern healthcare systems, with widespread implications for nurse well-being, patient safety, and organizational performance. Characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment, burnout affects an estimated 30% to 60% of nurses, particularly in high-acuity settings. The persistence of burnout highlights the need to better understand its contributing factors, consequences, and effective strategies for mitigation.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence and contributing factors of nursing burnout, evaluate its impact on nurses and patient care, and identify effective interventions. Additionally, this study aimed to assess burnout within a local nursing population in Northern Utah to contextualize national and global findings at the community level.

Methods: A literature review was conducted using the Cumulative Index to Nursing & Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), focusing on peer-reviewed sources published between 2015 and 2026. Key search terms included “nursing burnout,” “compassion fatigue,” and “burnout interventions.” In addition, a cross-sectional survey was administered to 70 nurses who were either licensed practical nurses (LPNs) or registered nurses (RNs) across multiple hospital units in Northern Utah. Data was collected via an anonymous Qualtrics survey and analyzed using JASP statistical software. Descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine relationships between burnout indicators and workplace factors.

Results: Understaffing, workload, and leadership served as primary drivers of burnout that contributed to decreased patient safety and increased turnover. Survey findings supported these trends, with 87.1% of participants reporting negative mental health impacts from work. Significant correlations were observed between exhaustion and mental health (r = .651, p < .001), combined burnout dimensions and psychological strain (r = .729, p < .001), and reduced resources, support, and workload with negative outcomes (r = .491, p = .013).

Conclusion: Burnout is a systemic issue requiring organizational interventions. While individual strategies such as resilience and mindfulness may a part of the solution to resolving burnout, sustainable reductions in burnout depend on improvements in staffing, leadership, and workplace environments. Sustainable improvement depends on addressing structural factors to support nurse well-being, but also, to ensure safe, high-quality patient care.

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Faculty Mentor

Callie Bosworth

Departmental Honors Advisor

Tiffany Williams