Vita Aveniņa
Latvia
Title: Professional Life Quality, Burnout Syndrome and Work Organization Factors in a Sample of Latvian Nurses
Biography
Biography: Vita Aveniņa
Abstract
The number of health professionals is a problem that ranks among the main weaknesses of Latvian health care sector. Due to the conditions predefined by the economic situation, 1,355 nurses in Latvia worked for two employers; 178 nurses for three employers and several dozens were compelled to work for four to seven employers, the Latvian nurses association emphasizes. This is a disturbing statistics and most probably, it means that several healthcare services cannot be provided at all or their quality is at risk, meanwhile the personnel is exposed to overload. Chronic overload during the performance of daily duties, non-regulated working hours, night shifts, monotonous, stereotypic work, as well as the performance of professional duties for several employers that lasts for years may serve as the cause for the burnout syndrome and compassion fatigue. The work environment of nurses is a significant factor that affects their work results, as well as the quality of patient care and patient safety. A correlation between the work environment, organizational factors and burnout of nurses exists. Support by the organization and the management, as well as positive, adequate work environment attracts and retains nurses in their profession, which serves as a long term basis for the provision of high quality patient care.