When care makes you ill: the impacts of burnout on emergency department nurses

Abstract

This study addresses Burnout Syndrome as a consequence of chronic occupational stress, with high relevance among nurses working in emergency departments—settings characterized by high demand, unpredictability, decision-making pressure, and intense emotional burden. The objective was to analyze how “care work can make caregivers ill” and what impacts burnout has on these professionals, as well as on the quality and safety of care. This is an integrative literature review aimed at a critical synthesis of evidence from studies with different methodological designs. The theoretical framework considers burnout across dimensions such as emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and reduced professional accomplishment, in addition to explanatory models based on the imbalance between job demands and available resources. The findings indicate that adverse working conditions—such as prolonged shifts, overcrowding, resource scarcity, and repeated exposure to critical events—promote illness, with physical and psychological repercussions (fatigue, sleep disturbances, anxiety, depression) and impaired quality of life. Effects on care delivery are also highlighted, including reduced empathy and communication, a higher risk of failures and errors, and organizational impacts (absenteeism, leaves of absence, and turnover). It is concluded that the syndrome is multifactorial and requires integrated institutional strategies, including adequate staffing, psychological support, training for stress management, and policies that promote professional recognition, with the aim of protecting workers and ensuring patient safety.