Evaluation of burnout and coping strategies in nurses and midwives: The case of Ardahan

It has been frequently observed that nurses and midwives working in the healthcare sector, which is a continuous, dynamic, variable and unpredictable service sector, experience burnout. The underlying factors contributing to this phenomenon include irregular working hours and rest periods, direct communication and interaction with individuals experiencing health concerns, patients, and their relatives engaged in a sensitive process, and the absence of clearly delineated job descriptions. The objective of this study is to ascertain the levels of burnout experienced by midwives and nurses in Ardahan province, to identify strategies for coping with this burnout, and to present possible solutions at the individual and institutional levels. In this regard, the survey model was selected as the quantitative research method, with the questionnaire technique being utilised for data collection. The study population comprised midwives and nurses employed in all healthcare institutions affiliated with the Ardahan Provincial Health Directorate. A total of 242 nurses and midwives participated in the study, and data were collected by administering the Maslach Burnout Inventory and the Coping Strategies Form to the participants. The research findings demonstrate that nurses and midwives experience burnout and utilise the strategies of 'reflecting and sharing feelings' and 'humorous approach' to cope with burnout. Analyses based on demographic variables revealed no significant differences in participants' burnout levels with respect to gender, age, marital status, whether they had children, annual leave duration, total work duration, or levels of substance use for relaxation. A significant correlation was identified between levels of burnout and variables including educational status, the institution at which the subject is employed, the department in which the subject is employed, and the number of shifts worked by the subject. The results of the study indicated that nurses and midwives experience burnout. Given that the present study was conducted in healthcare institutions, sectors in which services are provided directly to individuals, it was hypothesised that the level of burnout would be high. KeyWords: Health personnel, burnout, nurse, midwife, coping strategies, Ardahan