Assessment of Cynicism and Burnout Syndrome Among Nurses; A Descriptive Study

Abstract

Objective: Healthcare professionals are susceptible to experiencing cynicism and burnout syndrome. This study aimed to assess the cynicism and burnout syndrome levels among hospital nurses. Material and Methods: The study employed a descriptive design and involved the administration of standardized scales and a questionnaire to voluntary participants, who were nurses at a designated tertiary hospital. The questionnaire, conducted through face-to-face interviews, aimed to collect socio-demographic information, address specific concerns relevant to nurses, and comprehensively evaluate their levels of cynicism and Burnout, thereby capturing crucial socio-demographic details. Results: A total of 327 nurses participated in the study. Findings indicated that 58.1% of the nurses had willingly chosen their profession, 48.6% expressed satisfaction with their profession, and 22.3% believed their profession was valued. The study revealed a positive correlation between sub-dimensions of the burnout scale, sub-dimensions of the organizational cynicism scale, total organizational cynicism scale scores, and general cynicism scale scores (p < 0.05). Conclusion: These results indicate that nurses are at risk of experiencing cynicism and burnout syndrome. It is, therefore, crucial to identify risk factors and implement preventive measures early on to minimize the risk. Recommendations include enhancing the working environment and conditions for healthcare professionals, particularly nurses, adjusting working hours, and providing psychological counselling services for employees.