Understanding the Lived Experience of Nurses A Mixed-Methods Study of Resilience and Burnout

Background: During COVID-19, organizations accommodated an increase in critically ill and isolated patients. Rapid changes to workload and the environment consumed daily operations, causing an unrelenting strain on nurses. Objective: This study explored the lived experience of nurses during a pandemic event. Additional objectives were to determine the levels of individual resilience and burnout. Methods: This cross-sectional survey used a convergent mixed-methods design. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarize and test differences in resiliency and burnout scores. Constant comparative analysis was used to analyze qualitative responses. Results: The Brief Resilient Coping Scale indicated medium resilient copers (mean, 15.7 [SD, 2.52]). There was no correlation between burnout and Brief Resilient Coping Scale (r = 0.186). Four themes were identified: (1) mental, physical, and emotional toll; (2) constant change; (3) perceptions of leadership; and (4) burnout. Discussion: No correlation was found between coping ability and burnout. Nursing burnout was associated with the ongoing tolls, constant change, and leadership challenges.