Aim: The aim of this work is to examine staffing, personal protective equipment (PPE) adequacy and physical exhaustion that contributed to burnout and intent to leave among hospital nurses during the first peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Background: Burnout is associated with adverse nurse and patient outcomes. Identifying the magnitude of burnout that occurred during the pandemic can prepare managers for the long-term mental health effects on nurses.
Methods: A cross-sectional, electronic survey was administered to examine perceptions of burnout and intent to leave among all New Jersey hospital nurses from October 6 to October 26, 2020.
Results: A total of 3030 nurses responded with 64.3% reporting burnout and 36.5% reporting intent to leave the hospital within a year. There was a significant association between high levels of burnout and intent to leave (χ2 = 329.4; p = .001). There was no association between staffing and burnout; however, reporting inadequate PPE (OR = 1.77 [95% CI: 1.34-2.34]) and physical exhaustion (OR = 3.89 [95% CI: 3.19-4.76]) remained predictors of burnout among nurses.
Conclusion: Inadequate PPE and physical exhaustion coupled with short staffing contributed to burnout and intent to leave.
Implications for nursing management: Managers should continue to utilize evidence-based mental health interventions and advocate within their nursing professional organizations for relief funds to reduce burnout.
Keywords: COVID-19; burnout; hospitals; intent to leave.
© 2022 The Authors. Journal of Nursing Management published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.