Emergency department (ED) nurses suffer from persistent stress after experiencing the traumatic event of exposure to Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which can subsequently lead to burnout. This study aimed to assess ED nurses' burnout level during an outbreak of MERS-CoV and to identify influencing factors in order to provide basic information for lowering and preventing the level of burnout. Study participants were ED nurses working in eight hospitals designated for treating MERS-CoV-infected patients in Korea. We performed multiple regression analysis to explore the factors influencing burnout. The ED nurses' burnout was affected by job stress (β=0.59, p<.001), poor hospital resources for the treatment of MERS-CoV (β = -0.19, p<.001) and poor support from family and friends (β = -0.14, p<.05). These three variables explained 47.3% of the variance in burnout. ED nurses taking care of MERS-CoV-infected patients should be aware that burnout is higher for nurses in their divisions than nurses in other hospital departments and that job stress is the biggest influential factor of burnout. To be ready for the outbreak of emerging contagious diseases such as MERS-CoV, efforts and preparations should be made to reduce burnout. Job stress should be managed and resolved. Working conditions for mitigating job stress and systematic stress management programs should be provided, and hospital resources for the treatment of MERS-CoV need to be reinforced. Moreover, promoting support from family and friends is required.

Aim: This study aimed to compare nurses' perceptions of career ladder systems, job satisfaction and turnover intention in small‐ and medium‐sized hospitals with and without a career ladder system.Design: A cross‐sectional, correlational, descriptive study was conducted.Methods: Data were collected using self‐report surveys from 130–144 participants in small‐ and medium‐sized hospitals with and without a career ladder system, respectively. The data were collected from July 1, 2019‐July 31, 2019.Results: The perception of the career ladder system was positively correlated with job satisfaction in hospitals with and without a career ladder system but negatively correlated with turnover intention in those with a career ladder system only. A positive perception of the system is associated with increased job satisfaction and lowered turnover intention. Hospitals should implement a career ladder system and improve nurses' perception by addressing the specific categories identified in this study.

Yang NY, et al. J Korean Acad Nurs Adm. 2014 Jan;20(1):1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.11111/jkana.2014.20.1.1