Abstract

Healthcare professionals are trained to put the needs of others before themselves and spend each working day exposed to the emotional strain of dealing with people who are sick or dying and who have extreme physical and emotional needs. This emotional strain, coupled with other stress factors inherent in the healthcare work environment, renders healthcare professionals especially vulnerable to burnout. Burnout is a psychological term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work. The American Psychological Association’s David Ballard, PhD describes job burnout as “an extended period of time where someone experiences exhaustion and a lack of interest in things, resulting in a decline in their job performance.”

Key words: BURNOUT, BURNOUT IN NURSES.