THE BURNOUT AND EXHAUSTION LEVELS OF NURSES WORKING IN HAEMODIALYSIS UNITS

Aim: The aim of the study was to determine the burnout and exhaustion levers of nurses working in haemodialysis units. Method: The study was a cross-sectional and descriptive one. A total of 95 nurses working at the 17 dialysis centres in the centre of the Ankara Province were included. The data were collected using a questionnaire defining the socioeconomic characteristics of the nurses and the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) and evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test. Results: Haemodialysis nurses' emotional burnout score was 16.03+/-6.28, the depersonalisation score 4.72+/-3.20 and the personal accomplishment score 20.97+/-4.61. Their emotional burnout and personal accomplishment level was significantly higher in those considering leaving the profession, nurses who did not find the profession suitable and those working in units where no precautions were taken against infectious disease (p < 0.05). Conclusion: It may be suggested that taking precautions at units, providing better working conditions, defining the duties of nurses and providing further dialysis education for nurses may decrease burnout rates.