BURNOUT SYNDROME IN PRIMARY HEALTH CARE NURSING PROFESSIONALS

Abstract

Introduction: Burnout syndrome among primary care nursing professionals is a concerning factor, as it affects both the quality of life of the professionals and the care provided to patients. Studies show that the incidence of this syndrome has increased among nursing professionals, leading to emotional, physical, and psychological exhaustion in both their professional and personal lives. Therefore, it is necessary to monitor all factors that may trigger Burnout Syndrome. Objective: To analyze the main complications of Burnout Syndrome on the quality of life of primary care nursing professionals. Methodology: This was an integrative literature review, carried out through the databases Scientific Electronic Library Online (Scielo), PubMed, and the Virtual Health Library (BVS). The descriptors were selected from the DeCS platform and included: “Burnout Syndrome,” “Primary Health Care,” and “Nursing Professionals,” using the boolean operator AND. The guiding question was: what are the main complications of Burnout Syndrome on the quality of life of primary care nursing professionals? The inclusion criteria for article selection were: publications from the last five years, available in full text, in Portuguese and English. Exclusion criteria included articles that did not meet the research objective, theses, undergraduate dissertations, and duplicate articles across databases. After analysis and final evaluation, the results were presented in tables and discussed based on the literature. Results: Primary Health Care (PHC) nursing professionals are among the most vulnerable to developing Burnout Syndrome due to high workloads, significant responsibilities, continuous and direct contact with the community, lack of professional recognition, and inadequate working conditions. Fatigue and stress are perceived individually, requiring personalized interventions to prevent the syndrome. Recommended strategies include changes in work organization, improved professional relationships, training, team strengthening, reduced working hours, and ongoing education initiatives. Additionally, public policies aimed at workers' mental health, restructuring of work processes, and participation in health service management are essential to promote well-being, job satisfaction, and quality care delivery. Final Considerations: The study revealed moderate levels of Burnout among PHC nursing professionals, associated with overload, lack of resources, and poor working conditions. Older, married professionals with high weekly workloads were the most affected. It highlights the need to reorganize the system to prevent overload and improve the quality of care.