Burnout syndrome and shift work among the nursing staff

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the factors associated with Burnout Syndrome among nursing workers according to work shift. Method: cross-sectional study addressing a representative sample of 502 nursing workers from a philanthropic hospital facility. Data were collected using a characterization instrument, the Maslach Burnout Inventory – Human Service Survey and the Demand-Control-Support Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple binary logistic regression. Results: levels of Burnout Syndrome were significantly higher among those working the day shift and associated factors included: high demand; low control; low social support; dissatisfaction with sleep and financial resources; being a nurse; and sedentariness. Professionals working the night shift, having low social support, being dissatisfied with sleep, having children, not having a religion, having worked for a short period in the institution, and being a nursing technician or aid were significantly more likely to experience high levels of the syndrome. Conclusion: psychosocial factors and factors from the work context, mainly low social support, were associated with the syndrome dimensions among nursing workers of both shifts.