COPING STRATEGIES FOR BURNOUT SYNDROME IN ADULT INTENSIVE CARE NURSES: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW
Keywords:
coping strategies; intensive care; nursing; occupational health; burnout syndromeAbstract
DOI: https://doi.org/10.46296/yc.v10i18.0850
Abstract
Introduction: Burnout syndrome is a major occupational health problem in nursing, particularly in adult intensive care units (ICUs), where clinical complexity, sustained workload, moral distress, and exposure to human suffering converge. Although burnout remains under conceptual debate, its clinical and organizational impact is widely recognized [1,2,3]. Objective: To analyze the coping strategies used by adult ICU nursing staff and to examine the scientific evidence on their effectiveness against burnout syndrome. Methods: Systematic literature review, partially following PRISMA 2020 guidelines [4]. Searches were conducted in PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, Web of Science, and SciELO between December 2025 and January 2026. Quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese during the previous five years were included when focused on adult ICU nurses, burnout, and coping strategies. Results: Of 1091 identified records, 24 studies met the eligibility criteria. The evidence showed a high prevalence of burnout, especially in emotional exhaustion and depersonalization. Institutional strategies predominated, particularly improvement of the work environment, adequate staffing and nurse–patient ratio, effective leadership, and institutional psychosocial support. The most frequently reported individual strategies were resilience, emotional regulation, active coping, self-care, physical activity, and social support. Individual interventions showed benefit, although with lower sustainability when applied in isolation. Conclusions: Burnout in adult ICU nursing is a persistent and multifactorial phenomenon. The reviewed evidence supports a multicomponent approach that prioritizes organizational change while strengthening personal resources. Evidence gaps remain in Latin America, particularly in Ecuador.
Keywords: coping strategies; intensive care; nursing; occupational health; burnout syndrome.
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