ABSTRACT
Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited 314 nurses from two hospitals in the southeastern US. Measures were collected via an online survey after IRB approval and informed consent. The Copenhagen Burnout Inventory was used to measure burnout. Multiple choice questions from the survey inquired about preferred stress management strategies (e.g., exercise class, relaxation). Results: Participants were predominantly female, white, married, average age of 40.45 years, and 59% provided direct COVID-19 care. Average burnout score was 59.52 (SD = 19.00);70.9% reported moderate (47.1%) to high/severe (23.8%) burnout. Nurses indicated most interest in “restorative breaks at work” (53.8%), relaxation exercises (52.5%), music therapy (48.7%), exercise (48.1%), yoga (36.6%) and meditation (36.3%) to help manage stress. Logistic regression results showed that nurses' preferences were mostly independent of their levels of burnout (p > .05). Burnout was predictive of choosing restorative breaks (p = .021), meditation (p = .040), and nurses with higher burnout being more likely to choose restorative breaks (OR = 1.02), but less likely to prefer meditation (OR = .99). Background: Burnout is a protracted response to stressors at work, characterized by exhaustion and inadequacy1. During the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses' concerns leading to burnout include lack of resources, rapidly changing advice about the pandemic, and lack of organizational preparedness2. There is a need for interventions to reduce pandemic-related burnout3. This study explores the relationship between levels of burnout and nurses' preference for stress management strategies. This is a partial report of a larger study on COVID-19 stress in nurses. Conclusion: Frontline nurses experience significant burnout levels that warrant intervention. Nurses' top stress management preferences included organizational and individual strategies but were mostly independent of levels of burnout. Results highlight the need for restorative breaks at work, especially for those with higher levels of burnout.