Burnout-related experiences, workplace support and prevention needs among intensive care nurses: A cross-sectional study
Abstract
Background: Intensive care nurses face sustained emotional, cognitive, and organisational demands that may contribute to burnout-related symptoms and staff turnover. Aim: To examine self-reported burnout-related experiences, perceived psychological support in the workplace, prevention needs, and sociodemographic differences among nurses with intensive care unit (ICU) experience. Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional online survey was conducted from 12 March to 20 June 2025. A total of 185 questionnaires were received; four respondents were excluded because they did not meet the ICU-experience eligibility criterion, resulting in an eligible analytical sample of 181 participants. A study-specific 21-item questionnaire was used. Item-level descriptive statistics with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), Spearman rank correlations, Mann-Whitney U tests, and Kruskal-Wallis tests were applied. Results: Emotional exhaustion after a shift was reported often or very often by 76.5% of respondents (95% CI, 69.8-82.1). Other frequent experiences included reduced motivation (50.3%), exhaustion outside work (59.1%), considering a job change (55.2%), feeling undervalued (59.7%), and work-life interference (59.1%); 61.3% reported a high perceived impact of ICU conditions on mental health. Psychological support was rated as inadequate by 94.5% (95% CI, 90.1-97.0), 96.7% considered organisational measures necessary, and 63.1% would participate in a prevention programme. Three of 70 subgroup comparisons remained statistically significant after Benjamini-Hochberg adjustment. Conclusion: Frequent exhaustion, reduced motivation, work-life interference, perceived undervaluation, and unmet support needs indicate substantial occupational strain among nurses with ICU experience. The findings are item-specific and should not be interpreted as a diagnostic classification or as an estimate of burnout prevalence.