Unsupportive workplaces, unrealistic workloads and the shock of suddenly carrying full clinical responsibility are the three biggest drivers of burnout among Australia’s newly graduated registered nurses, according to an analysis of two decades of research.

Researchers from James Cook University undertook an Australian-only scoping review to identify the workplace factors contributing to burnout among newly registered nurses and the interventions that might prevent it.

Lead researcher Kate Hurley said the first 3-6 months of the graduate year were particularly important because nurses were rapidly moving from supervised practice into full professional accountability.

“To a certain extent, you have the protection of your graduate year, but you still sit within the same scope of practice as nurses who have been practising for a long time,” she told AusDoc.