Can We Predict Burnout among Student Nurses? An Exploration of the ICWR-1 Model of Individual Psychological Resilience

Abstract

The nature of nursing work is demanding and can be stressful. Previous studies have shown a high rate of burnout among employed nurses. Recently, efforts have been made to understand the role of resilience in determining the psychological adjustment of employed nurses. A theoretical model of resilience was proposed recently that includes several constructs identified in the literature related to resilience and to psychological functioning. As nursing students are the future of the nursing workforce it is important to advance our understanding of the determinants of resilience in this population. Student nurses who had completed their final practicum were invited to participate in an online survey measuring the key constructs of the ICWR-1 model. 422 students from across Australia and Canada completed the survey between July 2014 and July 2015. As well as several key demographics, trait negative affect, mindfulness, self-efficacy, coping, resilience, and burnout were measured. We used structural equation modeling and found support for the major pathways of the model; namely that resilience had a significant influence on the relationship between mindfulness, self-efficacy and coping, and psychological adjustment (burnout scores). Furthermore, as predicted, Neuroticism moderated the relationship between coping and burnout. Results are discussed in terms of potential approaches to supporting nursing students who may be at risk of burnout.

Work stress, perceived social support, self‐efficacy and burnout among Chinese registered nurses

“…However, self‐efficacy did not directly influence burnout (H3). This result was congruent with a previous study by Rees et al (). However, it was inconsistent with Bandura's () explanation that when people have a high rate of self‐efficacy, they may experience low rate of burnout.…”

Psychological resilience in New Zealand registered nurses: The role of workplace characteristics

“…CD‐RISC‐10 scores range from 0 to 40 (higher scores indicating elevated resilience). Multiple Australian studies with nurses and nursing students showed that the CD‐RISC‐10 had good psychometric properties (Craigie et al, ; Rees et al, ; Slatyer, Craigie, Heritage, Davis, & Rees, ).…”

“…With this knowledge, there is a need to explore facets of resilience, including the role that individual and workplace factors play in promoting or diminishing resilience. Numerous studies have examined the relationship between individual factors and psychological resilience in nurses (Gillespie, Chaboyer, Wallis, & Grimbeek, ; Hegney, Rees, Eley, Osseiran‐Moisson, & Francis, ; Rees et al, ). Gillespie et al () found competence, coping, control, self‐efficacy, and hope were all attributes associated with resilience.…”

“…Gillespie et al () found competence, coping, control, self‐efficacy, and hope were all attributes associated with resilience. Rees et al () reported that some attributes were positively correlated with resilience (e.g., mindfulness, adaptive coping and self‐efficacy), while maladaptive coping, neuroticism and burnout were negatively associated. Hegney et al () found compassion fatigue, secondary traumatic stress, anxiety and depression to be negatively associated with resilience and compassion satisfaction to be positively associated.…”

A re‐examination of the individual differences approach that explains occupational resilience and psychological adjustment among nurses

“…Occupational resilience is a construct that continues to receive much research attention due to its prospective mitigating influence on less‐desirable workplace outcomes, such as burnout and turnover (Lee et al, ; Rees et al, ). Resilience is commonly considered as an individual differences variable that modifies the way people respond to, and consequently bounce back from, risky or psychologically taxing scenarios (Fraser, Richman, & Galinsky, ).…”