Purpose: This study was designed to describe burnout experiences of counseling nurses who work for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at hospital-based counseling service in Korea.
Methods: A Qualitative research technique with focus group interviews was used and the data were collected in 2012. Participants were 13 counseling nurses who had worked full-time for more than six months as a counseling nurse for PLWHA in the 16 medical hospitals in South Korea. 13 nurses are 68.4% of all 19 official HIV counseling nurses in South Korea. Data were collected using focus group interviews and analyzed with the content analysis methodology of Downe-Wamboldt’s.
Results: Burnout experience of counseling nurses for PLWHA was analyzed into three domains-causes of, effects of and coping with burnout. In three domains, nine categories, 26 sub-categories and 69 concepts were discovered. First domain was ‘Causes of burnout’: The burnout caused by three factors- personal, job, and relationship with others factor. Personal factors included burying in works and patients, reaching the breaking point of ability, and refusing to face reality. There were several job factors such as doing with absolutely nothing, a lonely remote island, pressed for heavy workload, hidden efforts by evaluation, uncertain job roles of a counseling nurse, and anxious present and future. Relationship with others factors had three sub-categories like difficulty of counseling and of relationship with boss and colleagues. Second domain was ‘Effects of burnout’: The burnout had influenced personal inner side, job and personal relationship. In aspect of internal person, effects of burnout expressed red light on emotion and experience of physical symptoms. The burnout also disturbed on the job directly and indirectly. The effects on personal relationship were comprised in negative feeling and behavior, shrinking relationship. Third domain was ‘Coping with burnout’: The counseling nurses for PLWHA dealt with their burnout in many actions- personal action (such as ventilation, developing job skill, charging mental energy, passive defense), counseling nurses’ group action (going out together, being together), and receiving professional helps (educating, consulting, being counseled by supervisor).
Conclusion: This study discovered various causes, effects, and coping methods of burnout experienced by counseling nurses for PLWHA. These findings can be used in developing effective strategies for nurses, administrators, and health policy makers to solve the burnout of counseling nurses. Further research is required to develop detailed and practical job description of counseling nurses for PLWHA.