Title: A cross sectional multisite exploration of Italian paediatric nurses' reported burnout and its relationship to perceptions of clinical safety and adverse events using the RN4CAST@IT-Ped

Bagnasco, Annamaria; Dasso, Nicoletta; Rossi, Silvia; Timmins, Fiona; Watson, Roger; Aleo, Giuseppe; Catania, Gianluca; Zanini, Milko; Sasso, Loredana

Abstract

Aim
To explore Italian paediatric nurses’ reported burnout and its relationship to their perceptions of safety and adverse events.

Design
A cross‐sectional study using the RN4CAST@IT‐Ped database with a web‐based survey design.

Methods
The RN4CAST@IT‐Ped questionnaire was used to collect data in 2017. This comprised three main components: three dimensions (22 items) of the Maslach Burnout Inventory including emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Participants also scored an overall grade of patient safety and estimated the occurrence of adverse clinical events.

Results
Nurses (N = 2,243) reported high levels of burnout. Most rated clinical safety as high. The risk of adverse events ranged from 1.3–12.4%. The degree of burnout appeared to influence the perception of safety and adverse events.

Conclusion
The association between nurses’ burnout and perceptions of higher rates of adverse events and reduced safety in clinical practice is an important finding. However, it is unclear whether this was influenced by a negative state of mind, and whether reduced safety and increased adverse events negatively influenced nurses’ well‐being, thus leading to burnout. Regardless, the association between nurses’ burnout and these quality concepts needs further exploration to examine the effect, if any, on burnout and safety, and identify supportive mechanisms for nurses.

Impact
The association between reported burnout and perception of safety and risk of adverse events in Italian paediatric nurses has been reported for the first time. Nurses reporting burnout are at greater risk of intensely negative perceptions of clinical safety and adverse events. This is an important finding as perceptions can influence practice and behaviours. Quality measures in children's clinical environments need to go beyond obvious indicators to examine nurses’ well‐being as this also influences quality and safety.

Citation

Bagnasco, A., Dasso, N., Rossi, S., Timmins, F., Watson, R., Aleo, G., Catania, G., Zanini, M., & Sasso, L. (2020). Title: A cross sectional multisite exploration of Italian paediatric nurses' reported burnout and its relationship to perceptions of clinical safety and adverse events using the RN4CAST@IT-Ped. Journal of advanced nursing, 76(8), 2072-2081. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14401

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 15, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Apr 30, 2020
• Publication Date: 2020-08
• Deposit Date: Jul 1, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: May 1, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Advanced Nursing
• Print ISSN: 0309-2402
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 76
• Issue: 8
• Pages: 2072-2081
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.14401
• Keywords: Adverse event; Burnout; Child; Children's nursing; Nurse; Paediatric; Professional well‐being; Quality of care; Safety; Safety culture; Work environment
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/3496866
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/jan.14401