Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 23 (7): 1427-1435, 2015 ISSN 1990-9233 © IDOSI Publications, 2015 DOI: 10.5829/idosi.mejsr.2015.23.07.9485 Corresponding Author: Nur Feyzal KESEN, Selcuk University, Faculty of Health Sciences Social Work Department, Campus, Selcuklu, Konya, Turkey. Tel: +90 332 223 3533, Fax: +90 332 240 0056, 1427 Determining Burnout Levels of Personnel Working in Nursing Homes Nur Feyzal Kesen, Serap Dasbas and Semra Saruc 1 1 2 Selcuk University, Faculty of Health Sciences Social Work Department, Campus, Konya/Turkey 1 Anadolu University, Faculty of Health Sciences Social Work Department, Campus, Eskisehir/Turkey 2 Abstract: The aim of the study is to determine the burnout levels of personnel working in the nursing homes. This is a cross-sectional study. Maslach’s burnout inventory and personal information questionnaire prepared by researchers are used to collect data. Data in our research are obtained from staffs (n=109) working in a nursing home. Data are summarized by numbers and percentages and normality assumption is seen to hold. Therefore, independent samples t-test and single-factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) are applied. Results of statistical analysis show that significant differences between burnout level and demographic properties such as being satisfied with elderly’s attitude, desire to work in an another job, working period and income status. In conclusions, findings in this study reveal that burnout levels of the personnel working in the nursing home are high. Effective intervention about burnout should be done both individual and organisational basis. The most important one is to develop a solution approach towards reasons by detecting the factors caused burnout. It is very important to remove these problems in increasing the service quality provided to the elder. Key words: Nursing Home Burnout Elderly Nursing Home Personnel INTRODUCTION “Maslach Burnout Inventory.” Today, the most accepted In Turkey, there are nursing homes and nursing and Jackson defined the burnout as “a syndrome with rehabilitation centers for the elderly run by public, local emotional and mental dimensions that includes physical governments, foundations, associations, universities and exhaustion, long-lasting fatigue, emotions of despair and the private sector. These institutions provide residential hopelessness, negative sense of self, uselessness and care services for dependent or independent elderly people negative attitudes towards others” [2]. Thus, burnout has who are in need of protection. three dimensions of “emotional exhaustion,” Care of the elderly is a demanding and laboring “depersonalization” and “reduced personal process. Especially any personnel who are responsible for accomplishment.” These dimensions formed the basis of the care of the elderly face significant distress. One of the Maslach Burnout Inventory, the most commonly used most important problems that the personnel face is the quantitative tool on burnout. The dimensions of burnout burnout syndrome. The risk of experiencing burnout is could be addressed as follows: very high for nursing home personnels for they provide Emotional exhaustion is the beginning stage of services to elderly and people in need of care. burnout where the individuals begins to get tired of his or Initially Herbert Freudenberger defined the concept her occupation and could no longer find the emotional of burnout in 1974 as “to become exhausted due to strength needed to fulfill the necessary tasks. Maslach excessive demands on energy, power or resources” [1]. and Jackson [2] defined this phase as the overloading of One of the researchers prominent with his work on the employee on the occupation and resulting feeling of burnout, Maslach and Jackson made the definition of exhaustion. This stage reflects the personal stress burnout [2], which is still used today and developed the dimension of burnout [3]. definition of burnout dates back to Maslach. Maslach and