Stress and Burnout in Critical Care Nurses in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Burnout is a significant occupational health problem in critical care nurses, particularly working in intensive care units and emergency departments. The intensive work of critical care, involving long shifts, high patient acuity, and emotional stress, is a contributing factor to burnout, impacting job satisfaction, patient care quality, and nursing staff turnover. In Saudi Arabia, regional health disparities, nursing shortages, and reliance on expatriate nurses add to the issue, requiring closer examination. Aim: The aim of this systematic review seeks to synthesise current evidence on risk factors and the prevalence for stress and burnout among critical care nurses in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Methods: Systematic literature search was conducted by utilising PUBMED, CINAHL, and EMBASE databases. Inclusion was rigorous, and studies regarding the prevalence, risk factors, and Saudi Arabian critical care nurses’ exposure to burnout: a total of ten articles were included in the review. Meta-analyses were not feasible; thus, the results were synthesised narratively and categorised into two major categories: Levels of burnout and factors contributing to burnout. Results: There are high to moderate levels of burnout present in Critical care nurses, and there is regional variation between Riyadh, Makkah, and Jazan. Intensive care units’ nurses exhibited more emotional exhaustion, and emergency department nurses exhibited physical exhaustion as a result of workload intensity. There was added stress due to expatriate nurses, including uncertainty in jobs, cultural challenges, and language. Organisational factors, including shortages in staff, shift working, and rigid hospital hierarchies, also contributed to burnout. Conclusion: Burnout among Saudi Arabian critical care nurses’ is a serious workforce issue with direct effects on patient safety, healthcare efficiency, and retention. Addressing burnout requires policy changes, mental health support, and workforce reforms to improve nurse well-being and patient care. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies and intervention-based strategies for sustainable solutions.