Emotional exhaustion among critical care nurses and its link to occupational stress, structural empowerment, and perceived work environment: Is there a generational difference?

BACKGROUND

Critical care nurses experiencing high levels of emotional exhaustion (EE). However, limited studies explored the association between generational differences and nurses' perceived EE. The objectives of the current study were to: (1) assess generational differences in EE among critical care nurses and (2) examine the link between nurses' EE and the generational differences, occupational stress, structural empowerment, and nurses' perceived work environment.

METHODS

A proportional stratified clustered sampling technique was utilized. The hospitals were stratified according to their location. Data were collected from nurses working at 19 hospitals in Oman. The emotional exhaustion sub-scale of the Maslach Burnout Inventory was used to assess the level of EE among nurses working in critical care units.

RESULTS

A total of 714 staff nurses participated. The majority (78%) were from generation Y and 22% were from generation X. Regression analysis showed that generation Y critical care nurses experienced higher EE levels than generation X nurses. Increased psychological stress among nurses was associated with increased EE. Higher levels of access to support, resources, and information, as well as supportive managerial leadership and sufficient staffing and resources, were associated with significant reductions in EE.

CONCLUSION

To reduce job burnout among critical care nurses, healthcare leaders are required to ensure adequate staffing, provide managerial support, and monitor stress and EE levels frequently, particularly among generation Y nurses.