Abstract
M.Cur. (Nursing Management)
The largest and most expensive asset of any health care
institution is its human resources. Mol [1984 : 1J
quite correctly says that no organization can reach its
full potential when these resources are not utilized
effectively.
The researcher has noticed certain behavior patterns
amongst the nursing staff in intensive care units. These
behaviour patterns include an increase in staff turnover
and absenteeism. The question that arose was whether it
could be ascribed to professional burnout and whether
nursing managers could be contributing to the cause
thereof.
Th. burnout syndrome is a slowly developing
psychologically destructive process, which is in
relation to the effect the work environment· has on the
individual. The consequences of professional burnout has
many negative effects on the nurse, ·the patient, the
profession and the health care delivery system.
The concept of professional burnout is described with
reference from the literature and by means·of a survey
the following was determined, that:-
all nurses working in intensive care units in the
hospital were the research was conducted, had
experienced symptoms of professional burnout;
the majority of these nurses perceive their work
situation as severely stressful; and
- nursing managers are overwhelmingly applying the autocratic
leadership style.
Some of the important conclusions culminating from this
study are that:-
all these nurses experience one or other degree of
professional burnout as a result of experiences resulting
from unresolved stress in the work environment;
and
the nursing manager possibly uses ineffective management
strategies due to a lack of management training,
thus contributing to professional burnout.