Nurse Faculty Burnout and Strategies to Avoid it

• Published in: Teaching and learning in nursing 2019-04, Vol.14 (2), p.111-116
• Main Authors: Thomas, Cynthia M, Bantz, Diana L, McIntosh, Constance E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Burnout; Chronic Stress; Nurse Faculty; Work/Life Balance
• ISSN: 1557-3087; 1557-2013
• DOI: 10.1016/j.teln.2018.12.005

Eight out of ten Americans report they experience job stress. Nurses (74%) are reporting acute and chronic stress as a contributing factor to nurse burnout. Stress can be the result of organizational, interpersonal or individual/personal factors and could eventually lead to burnout if ignored. It has long been reported about the shortage of nursing faculty but very little about how current nurse faculty experience burnout. Faculty burnout can be due to a variety of reasons (e.g., employment requirements, working in understaffed environment, lack of support). Although stress at work has become common nurses may avoid acknowledging stress. Nurse faculty have not received as much attention related to chronic stress and burnout or recognize personal chronic stress potentially leading to burnout. This paper discusses how to recognize the chronic stress that may lead to nurse faculty burnout, provides a case study for reflection and learning, and offers strategies to reduce and avoid burnout. Nurse faculty may gain greater understanding of stressors leading to burnout, determine if they are experiencing symptoms of burnout and apply strategies to reduce or prevent burnout.