Investigating the Correlation between Job Burnout and Ethical Decision Making among Nurses Working in Intensive Care Units

Constant confront with critical situations intensifies the burnout of nurses in intensive care units and forces them to make numerous ethical decisions in their care. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the job burnout, ethical decision-making and their relationship among nurses working in intensive care units at Namazi Hospital, Shiraz.

This descriptive-correlational study was conducted in 2019-2020. The number of 120 nurses working in the intensive care units was selected using the convenience sampling method. Data were collected using Maslach's job burnout (1986) and ethical decision-making questionnaires. Data were analyzed with SPSS-23 using descriptive (mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage) and inferential (Pearson's test and multiple linear regression) statistics.

The results showed that the nurses’ mean scores for job burnout and ethical decision-making scores were 68.13±23.62 and 56.33±12.23, respectively, and were at a moderate level. Additionally, the results indicated a negative and significant relationship between job burnout and ethical decision-making (p<0.001). The age variable also had a predictive role in job burnout and ethical decision-making (p<0.001).

Providing holistic care in the intensive care units requires a high level of ethical decision-making ability, so this level appears to be inadequate. Furthermore, the notable magnitude of job burnout, its significant and negative impact on ethical decision-making, and the predictive role of age in them, require policymakers to pay more attention. Therefore, they should investigate job burnout and ethical decision-making and recruit young nurses along with experienced nurses in intensive care units.