‘An emotional roller coaster’: Fertility nurses’ stressors, wellbeing, burnout and work engagement through a mixed methods investigation

Abstract

Objective: To examine the stressors and mental health of Fertility Nurses who form a crucial part of the fertility journey. This is the first study we know of to capture mental health levels in this population.

Design/Methods: We used a mixed-methods approach to examine the unique stressors of fertility nursing and their resulting mental health outcomes. We used open-ended qualitative questions on stressors along with quantitative measures on distress, wellbeing, and work engagement. Australian Fertility Nurses aged over 18 were included in the study and 62 completed the entire survey.

Results: Thematic analysis of qualitative data indicates nurses face a myriad of stressors, grouped under the themes of interpersonal stressors, organisational stressors, and emotional burdens. Fertility Nurses struggled with high workloads which were exacerbated by conflicts with patients and other staff, as well as difficulty managing the painful discussions often present with unsuccessful fertility treatments. These stressors are linked to the quantitative results which show that Fertility Nurses experience high levels of burnout and low levels of well-being and workplace engagement—with some outcomes worse than other healthcare populations.

Conclusions: The study offers an extensive and nuanced view of Fertility Nurses’ experiences—capturing the views of an under-researched group. The results have implications for them, their patients, fertility clinics and the wider sector, as nurse care is key to patient experiences and successful treatment.