ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Public Health
Sec. Occupational Health and Safety
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1530353
This article is part of the Research TopicPatient and Medical Staff Safety and Healthy Work Environment in the 21st CenturyView all 38 articles
Factors Influencing Burnout, Stress Levels, and Coping Strategies Among Nursing Staff in Intensive Care Units
Provisionally accepted
- 1Institute of Health Sciences, Collegium Medicum, University of Zielona Góra, Zielona Gora, Poland
- 2Department of Surgery, Institute of Medical Sciences, Medical College of Rzeszów University, Rzeszow, Poland
- 3Division of Scientific Research and Innovation in Emergency Medical Service, Department of Emergency Medical Service, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- 4Group of Research in Care (GRUPAC), Faculty of Health Sciences, University of La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
- 5Division of Research Methodology, Department of Nursing, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
- 6Centre for Cardiovascular Health, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Campus, Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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Methodology: This quantitative study was conducted between March and November 2019 among nurses undergoing qualification and specialisation training at the European Centre for Postgraduate Education in Wrocław. A total of 286 questionnaires were collected, with 282 valid responses after excluding incomplete questionnaires (1.4%). Standardised tools used included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and the Mini-COPE Stress Coping Inventory. Participation was anonymous and voluntary, with informed consent obtained from all respondents.The study included 282 respondents, with women comprising 93.62% of the participants. The average burnout score based on the MBI was 39.78 out of 100 (SD = 20.7).According to the PSS-10, 43.26% of respondents experienced high stress, 36.88% medium stress, and 19.86% low stress. The Mini-COPE results indicated frequent use of Active Coping and Planning strategies, while strategies like Denial and Substance Use were used infrequently.Regarding life satisfaction (SWLS), 41.84% of participants had medium, 32.27% high, and 25.89% low life satisfaction.Professional burnout among nursing staff is a multifaceted issue closely related to stress levels, coping mechanisms, and overall life satisfaction. Addressing burnout requires comprehensive approaches that consider these interrelated factors.Practical Implications: To reduce burnout among ICU nurses, healthcare institutions should integrate routine stress assessments and provide structured support systems, such as resilience training and peer support programs. These interventions can enhance nurses' ability to manage stress, decrease emotional exhaustion, and ultimately improve the quality of care delivered to patients in high-stress environments like intensive care units
Keywords: Nurses, Burnout, Professional, Intensive Care Units, Stress, Psychological, Coping mechanisms
Received: 18 Nov 2024; Accepted: 09 May 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Wudarczyk, Krupa-Nurcek, Czapla and Uchmanowicz. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Michał Czapla, Division of Scientific Research and Innovation in Emergency Medical Service, Department of Emergency Medical Service, Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
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