The Risk of a Nurse Burnout in the Sphere of Palliative Medicine

Abstract

Palliative medicine is developing all over the world. Special attention paid to it is easily explained because new methods of treatment make it possible to continue life of patients with severe incurable diseases. a growing need for trained professionals who can work in palliative medicine is evident. a specialist caring for a seriously ill patient is one of the main components of palliative care: the former is required to realize not only medical knowledge and skills, but also the skills of caring for a terminally ill person, the manifestation of empathy and sensitivity to his personality is also expected. the study involved 42 nurses working in palliative and nursing departments. psychological difficulties nurses in palliative medicine experience, particularly in its emotional personal sphere and emotional burnout were studied. for 62% of nurses, the most difficult contributing to the emergence of fatigue and internal stress in them was emotional inclusion and communication with a seriously ill person. at the same time, 50% of nurses indicate difficulties in interacting with relatives of patients. the professional activity of a nurse in palliative medicine causes significant psychological overload, which entails a state of emotional burnout. the emotional characteristics of the nurse determine her difficulties in arbitrary control of her emotions and emotional rigidity, which, in turn, can lead to conflict situations in all areas of life. the article analyzes the relationship between the emotional intelligence of a nurse, her belief system about herself and the world, and the formation of burnout symptoms. psychological difficulties, job satisfaction are interrelated with the level of emotional intelligence of the nurse. educational programs for nurses in palliative medicine should necessarily include emotional training of nurses, which contributes to the development of their emotional intelligence and reduce emotional burnout.