From compassion to burnout: emotional labor in oncology nursing - a qualitative study.

INTRODUCTION

Cancer incidents are increasingly rising. The quality of care received by cancer patients and the guarantee of their satisfaction are no longer limited to clinical services. Oncology nurses can offer an important role in enhancing the level of patient satisfaction through emotional labor in this regard.

OBJECTIVE

It aims to explore oncology nurses' perceptions regarding the concept of emotional labor and the individual and organizational consequences of emotional labor.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present qualitative research was carried out based on a phenomenological approach. We sampled 18 oncology nurses working at Mashhad hospitals in the year 2024 through semi-structured interviews. Our interview questions were composed of seven open, semi-structured, and in-depth questions. Data analysis was done through conventional content analysis using MAXQDA software.

RESULTS

The results of this study revealed three main concepts of emotional labor based on the definitions provided by oncology nurses: individual effects, organizational outcomes, and relationships with patients.

CONCLUSION

Emotional labor is pivotal to enforcing good quality in healthcare services, patient satisfaction and nursing relations between the patients and their families. It plays a very important role in ensuring better treatment processes.