Definitions 1.
According to the World Health Organization, the symptoms of burnout are caused by unmanaged, chronic workplace stress occurring in any job or sector and results in the following conditions: § Mental and physical exhaustion § Mental distance from the job Importantly, burnout may include an array of specific symptoms as part of the generalized conditions listed above. Not everyone will experience the same set of symptoms. Experts agree burnout manifests through three primary symptom sets: 1. Exhaustion, characterized by feelings of being drained or unable to cope, being tired or depressed § Cynicism about the job § Reduced efficacy in the workplace 2. Disengagement from work-related activities, indicated by heightened stress levels and feelings of frustration 3. Diminished work performance, impacting routine tasks, fostering negativity, and lack of concentration and creativity In 2018, Thomas, Bantz, and McIntosh noted that eight out of ten Americans reported experiencing job stress and 74% of nurses were reporting acute and chronic stress. Burnout can occur due to a variety of organizational, interpersonal, or individual factors that can ultimately lead to weariness if ignored. However, these authors expressed concern that, despite the long-reported shortage of nursing faculty, there was little research regarding burnout in this group. To address this lack of a specific profile of symptoms, their study found the following factors contributed to nursing faculty burnout. Before the COVID-19 Pandemic 2.
Table A: Contributors to Faculty Burnout by Thomas, Bantz, and McIntosh (2018)
§ Shortage of qualified nursing faculty (creating an increased workload) § Lack of adequate preparation in the faculty role § The student population and attitudes § Student to faculty incivility § Balancing faculty role with care provider role during clinical supervision § Additional stressors for tenure-line faculty of balancing teaching with scholarship § Multiple demands on faculty: teaching, clinical supervision, scholarship
§ External demands (e.g., requirements) § Requirements to work and maintain certifications § Lack of administrative support § Lack of collegial support § Lack of personal/professional life balance § Multiple demands
§ Faculty-to-faculty incivility § Lack of sleep and exercise § Lofty goals and objectives
While this research study focused on nursing faculty, it is likely that the experiences of other healthcare faculty may be similar.
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