Abstract
Introduction: Nurse burnout is a pervasive occupational health concern characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced personal accomplishment. It arises from excessive workloads, inadequate staffing, and psychosocial stressors, with serious consequences for nurses’ well-being, workforce stability, and patient safety.
Methods: A narrative review was conducted using PubMed as the primary database. The search included peer-reviewed original studies, randomized controlled trials, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and narrative reviews published between 2020 and 2025. Eligible articles focused on burnout prevalence, determinants, and protective factors among nursing populations. The evidence was synthesized into thematic categories covering sociodemographic, occupational, organizational, and psychosocial influences.
Results: Burnout prevalence varied widely, ranging from 14% to over 80%, with the highest levels reported in intensive care, emergency, and COVID-19 units. Younger nurses, women, and those with limited social support were at greater risk. High workload, long shifts, insufficient staffing, and authoritarian leadership emerged as consistent predictors. Protective factors included resilience, collegial and organizational support, professional recognition, and positive work environments. Individual-focused interventions, such as mindfulness and cognitive-behavioral therapy, reduced emotional exhaustion but showed limited long-term effectiveness in the absence of systemic changes.
Conclusion: Burnout in nursing is driven by both individual vulnerabilities and structural workplace factors. Sustainable solutions require multi-level approaches that integrate resilience-building strategies with organizational reforms to protect nurse well-being and ensure safe, effective patient care.