Could job burnout among geriatric nursing staff actually be leading to a reduced state of well-being for residents in long-term care facilities? Taiwanese researchers suggest as much.
The study, conducted by a researcher at the National Taiwan University, found that higher rates of depersonalization in geriatric nurses were associated with less satisfaction, lower quality of life and more depressive symptoms among older long-term care residents.
The research used data from 590 residents in 172 facilities across Taiwan. Those residents were served by 315 nurses.
Reducing stress among geriatric nurses continues to be top of mind for LTC administrators.
Studies have shown that registered nurses in the United States working in nursing homes report higher rates of burnout and job dissatisfaction than those employed in any other setting, including hospitals, yet little is known about how this impacts care quality.
“Efforts should be made to mitigate the emergence of depersonalization among geriatric nursing staff,” the author concluded. “Support and education are also needed to enable geriatric nursing staff to foster positive interactions and relationships with LTC residents.”
Study findings were published recently in Geriatric Nursing.
From the October 2019 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
