International Journal of Caring Sciences September-December 2017 Volume 10 | Issue 3| Page 1348 www.internationaljournalofcaringsciences.org Original Article Is Self-Esteem Actually the Protective Factor of Nursing Burnout? Georgios Manomenidis, RN, MSc, PhD(c) Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece Theodora Kafkia, RN, MSc, PhD Clinical Lecturer, Department of Nursing, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece Eugenia Minasidou, RN, MSc, PhD Assistant Professor, Department of Nursing, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece Christos Tasoulis, RN Department of Nursing, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece Smaragdi Koutra, RN Department of Nursing, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece Athina Kospantsidou, RN Department of Nursing, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece Alexandra Dimitriadou, RN, PhD Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, Alexander Technological Educational Institute, Thessaloniki, Greece Corresponding author: Georgios Manomenidis, Medical School, Aristotle University Thessaloniki, 54124, Thessaloniki, Greece E-mail:george.mano@yahoo.gr Abstract Background: Several studies have indicated the significance of personality in the development of burnout with certain personality traits, like self-esteem, to have the main modulating effect. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between nurses’ self-esteem and the interactive (or moderating) role of personal and professional factors on the burnout process. Methodology: A cross-sectional survey was conducted. A total of 183 hospital nurses completed a self – reported questionnaire. Results: The results indicated that respondents exhibited high scores in burnout and in the Self-Esteem Scale with female nurses to have higher scores. A positive correlation between self-esteem and all three dimensions of burnout was found. Professional identity was the strongest predictor of personal accomplishment, whilst the inter-professional collaboration was the strongest negative predictor in the model of emotional exhaustion. Conclusions: Self-esteem might be a quality relevant to the nursing profession, still there are factors that work as a “driven force” that keep nurses’ heading on. Multi-modal strategies that create and enhance structures needed for improving nurses’ self-esteem should be incorporated in the nursing educational programs. Keywords: self-esteem, burnout, nurse, professional identity, inter- intra-professional collaboration Introduction Nurses are among health professionals sharing the highest prevalence of burnout (Cañadas-De la Fuente et al., 2015). It’s a profession with remarkable physical, psychological and emotional stress due to the sensitive working environment. Nurses should not experience burnout because it destroys creativity, reduces productivity and increases acts of poor judgment (Altun, 2002). Although, stressful aspects of the working environment are important predictors of burnout, quite a few studies have indicated the significance of personality in the development of burnout (Ang et al., 2016). Certain personality traits may act as a protective measure against burnout. For example, self-esteem may have a modulating effect on the occurrence of burnout (Gσmez et al., 2014). Some nurses are more