Report on the Mass Burnout, Mental Health, and Productivity of Nurses In Taiwan

Abstract

Introduction: Despite high enrollment rates in healthcare-related majors in Taiwan, hospitals have trouble retaining employees. Patient care reflects this through ever-longer waits and decreased care quality, especially since COVID. Healthcare workers report that their benefits inadequately compensate for the mental load of their work; it is imperative to evaluate and address the ongoing human resources crisis in healthcare to create a more sustainable healthcare system. 

Objective: This review aims to report on the burnout of nurses and the reasons thereof.

Method: Through the scope review of past studies, interviews, and other publications (n=15) pertaining to Taiwanese nurses’ working environments, any changes in the state of their mental health as a result of their work, and any actions they took as a result thereof. The publications were gathered through Google Scholar searches with the keywords listed below; the scope of the review was limited to Taiwan by limiting the review to Traditional Chinese works and by including the keywords “Taiwan” in every search. A total of 104 articles were found on Google Scholar, and 46 were excluded for being in Simplified Chinese, 28 for being locked behind a paywall, and 15 for not being about nurses. 15 remained for review. 

Results: The most significant reasons for burnout included inadequate emotional support, overwork, unreasonable patients, and insufficient staffing. Burnout not only affects nurses’ physical and psychological health but also undermines the ability of the healthcare system to function. Intervention must be multilevel to address both personal and organizational factors.

Conclusion: Solutions should target inadequate relief from pressure resulting from unfavourable patient-worker and worker-management interactions, low pay leading to constant worry about being overwhelmed by the cost of living, and the nonexistence of a future worth working for. The solution is simple; it merely lacks the necessary political will. 

Keywords: healthcare professionals, mental health, workplace pressure, burnout