Occupational burnout, retention and health outcomes in nephrology nurses.

Occupational burnout can have serious implications on productivity, nurses'health, service usage, and health care costs. This study examined the effect of burnout on nurses' mental and physical health outcomes and job retention. Randomly selected Canadian nephrology nurses completed surveys consisting of the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Pressure Management Indicator. The nurses also completed questions related to job retention. After controlling for age and years of nephrology nursing experience, the multivariate results demonstrated that almost 40% of mental health symptoms experienced by nephrology nurses could be explained by burnout and 27.5% of physical symptoms could be explained by burnout. Twenty-three per cent of the sample had plans to leave their current position and retention was significantly associated with burnout, mental, and physical symptoms. Organizational strategies aimed at reducing perceptions of burnout are important, as a means to keep nurses healthy and working to their fullest potential.