Organizational climate, job satisfaction, and burnout in nursing workers.

Introduction: Characterized by high levels of emotional exhaustion and depersonalization and reduced professional accomplishment, burnout syndrome has been a major cause of psychic illness in nursing workers, with a serious impact on the quality of services and on patient safety. Objectives: To analyze the correlation between organizational climate, job satisfaction, and burnout in nursing workers. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study with a sample of 534 Brazilian nursing workers. We used the Organizational Climate Scale for Health Organizations, the Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (S20/23), and the Maslach Burnout Inventory. An analytical descriptive analysis of the data was performed using relative and absolute frequencies, mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, and correlation test between the variables. Results: Organizational climate and job satisfaction were evaluated as regular. With regard to burnout, moderate levels of emotional exhaustion, low levels of depersonalization, and high levels of professional accomplishment were observed. A strong positive correlation was found between job satisfaction and organizational climate; in addition to a moderate negative correlation between emotional exhaustion and both organizational climate and job satisfaction, and a moderate negative correlation between depersonalization and job satisfaction. Conclusions: Organizational climate and job satisfaction had a negative correlation with burnout dimensions, representing possible protective factors.

Introdução: Caracterizada por elevados níveis de exaustão emocional, despersonalização e diminuição da realização profissional, a síndrome de burnout tem sido uma grande causa de adoecimento psíquico em trabalhadores de enfermagem, com sérios impactos na qualidade dos serviços e na segurança do paciente. Objetivos: Analisar a correlação entre clima organizacional, satisfação no trabalho e burnout em trabalhadores de enfermagem. Métodos: Trata-se de um estudo transversal, realizado com uma amostra de 534 trabalhadores de enfermagem brasileiros. Utilizou-se a Escala de Clima Organizacional para Organizações de Saúde, o Questionário de Satisfação no Trabalho (S20/23) e o Inventário de Burnout de Maslach. Foi realizada uma análise analítica e descritiva dos dados por meio de frequências relativas e absolutas, média, desvio padrão, mínimo, máximo e teste de correlação entre as variáveis. Resultados: O clima organizacional e a satisfação no trabalho foram avaliados como regulares. Quanto ao burnout, observou-se moderada exaustão emocional, baixa despersonalização e elevada realização profissional. Verificou-se correlação positiva forte entre satisfação no trabalho e clima organizacional; correlação negativa moderada entre exaustão emocional e clima organizacional; correlação negativa moderada entre exaustão emocional e satisfação no trabalho; e correlação negativa moderada entre despersonalização e satisfação no Trabalho. Conclusões: Clima organizacional e satisfação no trabalho apresentaram correlação negativa com as dimensões de burnout, constituindo-se em possíveis fatores de proteção.

Mental health problems among nurses in paediatric cardiac intensive care.

At present, there are growing rates of psychiatric symptoms among some occupational categories, with emphasis on health professionals who work in hospitals. This study aimed to identify the occurrence of mental health problems (anxiety and depression) among 92 nursing workers in a paediatric cardiac intensive care unit. This is an exploratory, cross-sectional study, with a quantitative approach. The research was conducted in a public university hospital specialising in cardiology, pneumology, and thoracic and cardiac surgery. The data were collected between June and July of 2012 through socio-demographic and Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) instruments. The analysis of the results revealed the occurrence of mental health problems in 45% (41) of the workers. There was the prevalence of tension, nervousness and worry symptoms, followed by headache. Findings highlight the need for protective measures towards the mental health of workers who assist children with serious heart disease.

Association between work ability and fatigue in Brazilian nursing workers.

BACKGROUND: Impaired work ability is associated with work-related illnesses, early retirement and rising pension costs. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association between work ability and fatigue in nursing workers. METHODS: Cross-sectional study conducted with 100 nursing workers from two inpatient units at a public teaching hospital in Sao Paulo, Brazil. The data were collected by means of a socio-demographic profile questionnaire, Work Ability Index (WAI) and Chalder Fatigue Scale. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive and analytical statistical methods, tests of association and multiple linear regression. RESULTS: The study population was mainly composed of women (88% ), exhibited a high educational level (76% ), average age 39.4 years old (SD = 9.5) and 15 years of professional experience, on average. The average score on WAI was good (39.4 points, SD = 6.0) but surprisingly, 35% of the participants exhibited moderate to poor work ability. Fatigue was found in 52% of the participants. The score on WAI decreased in association with fatigue (p <  0.001) and longer length of work in the same workplace (p = 0.001), as well as among nursing technicians compared to nurses (p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Fatigue, longer length of work in the same workplace and work category nursing technician were associated with decreased work ability, which emphasizes the need for investment in health and quality of work life.