Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are essential providers of anesthesia in the United States, yet rates of burnout are alarmingly high. To further understand burnout among CRNAs, a current synthesis of the literature is warranted. The purpose of this integrative review was to identify and synthesize the prevalence, contributing factors, and associated outcomes of burnout among CRNAs. A systematic search of the PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, and PsycINFO databases was performed. Quality appraisal was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute appraisal tools. A total of 15 studies were included in the review. Overall prevalence of burnout ranged from 12.5% to 72%. Significant contributing factors to burnout include lack of autonomy (n = 7), lack of leadership support (n = 4), moral distress (n = 3), and poor relations with physicians (n = 3). Intention to leave one's primary position (n = 3), decreased job satisfaction (n = 3), and fatigue (n = 1) were associated outcomes of burnout. CRNA burnout is found to have adverse individual and organizational outcomes. Contributing factors to be explored further in the CRNA population include poor CRNA-physician relations, poor CRNA-administration relations, and limited CRNA autonomy.
Keywords: CRNA; burnout; integrative review; nurse anesthetist.
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