Page 42 - Human Rights

Faculty of Nursing
Adult care Nursing Department

Burnout is frequently referred to in literature relating to nurses, mental health and human rights.

Burnout has been defined as “a sense of failure and of being worn out or exhausted through

excessive demands on one’s energy, strength or resources”, and is characterized by a sense of
alienation from one’s job, low job satisfaction, and a deterioration in job performance.

Burnout is normally associated with characteristics of the job, role conflict, working conditions,

work relationships, emotional exhaustion and depersonalization.

Poor working conditions, gender inequity, long hours and low wages are among the many reasons

behind burnout of nurses and midwives.

In some cases, violence or the witnessing of violence can lead to serious consequences for the

nurse and lead him or her to leave the profession.

Burnout is recognized by professional bodies and employers as a barrier to the provision of
effective nursing services and of the professional development of the individual nurse.

Japan:

nurses and burnout in mental health settings.

A study of mental health nurse burnout in Japan, undertaken in 2004, found that prevalence of
burnout is significantly higher in community psychiatric nurses than among public health nurses

in other settings. The study found work environment factors contributing to burnout to be

overwork in emergency services and lack of job control.

2.6.1 Nurses with disabilities

In recent years there has been a progressive, though very modest, attempt to encourage and train

nurses with disabilities to bring their skills, insights and experience to nursing.

Above all, such initiatives enrich the provision of nursing care to those with disabilities.

39 Academic Year 2025/2026