Burnout in undergraduate nursing students.

Abstract

Quantitative research using the Maslach Burnout Inventory has revealed that nursing students experience burnout and that their levels of burnout are comparable to working nurses. To explore the meaning of burnout as experienced by nursing students, a phenomenological research design was used. Once the essence of nursing students' experience of burnout is discovered, faculty members can design strategies targeted at the specific themes that emerged to help prevent burnout in their students. Twenty-eight sophomore nursing students described a situation in which they had experienced burnout during their nursing program. Using Colaizzi's phenomenological method, the following nine theme clusters emerged: engulfing demands, time pressure, no outlet, physically debilitating, emotionally overwhelming, lack of concentration, decreased motivation, impeding relationships, and coping attempts. Implications for nurse educators are addressed, along with specific interventions to help prevent burnout in undergraduate nursing students.