Nurse burnout before and during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic comparative review

IntroductionThis review aimed to compare available evidence examining burnout using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) in nurses before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The specific objective was to compare nurse burnout scores in terms of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment.MethodsA comprehensive search was conducted for studies on nurses' burnout using the MBI published between 1994 and 2022. In total, 19 studies conducted prior to the pandemic and 16 studies conducted during the pandemic were included and compared using the criteria from the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tool.ResultsSurprisingly, the results indicated that nurses' burnout scores did not differ significantly before (N = 59,111) and during (N = 18,629) the pandemic. The difference observed was qualitative rather than quantitative.DiscussionThe outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated an already critical situation, and while COVID-19 may serve as an additional triggering factor for staff mental illness, it cannot solely explain the observed burnout levels. These findings underscore the need for long-term clinical and preventive psychological interventions, suggesting that psychological resources should not be limited to emergencies but extended to address the ongoing challenges faced by nurses.Systematic review registrationhttps://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/display_record.php?RecordID=399628, identifier: CRD42023399628

Acute coronary syndromes in the practice of the emergency medical team

An acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is described when myocardial ischemia occurs due to impeding blood flow through the coronary vessels, which in turn results in insufficient supply of oxygen. As a disease entity, it causes almost half of all deaths in Poland. The high mortality of ACS is primarily in the pre-hospital setting. The classification of acute coronary syndromes is based on criteria such as clinical symptoms, the nature and type of changes in the electrocardiogram, and indicators of myocardial necrosis. In the conditions of the emergency medical team, the division is based on the image of the ECG test. On this basis, ACS with elevation of the ST segment (STEMI) and without ST segment elevation (NSTEMI) are defined. Pre-hospital diagnosis of ACS includes an interview with the patient and a 12-lead ECG performed preferably in no more than 10 minutes since the first medical contact. The task of the emergency medical team is to quickly recognize, perform teletransmission to the interventional cardiology centre and implement pharmacological treatment, and then provide transport to the nearest centre of invasive cardiology, where the procedure should be performed to clear the blocked coronary artery. Therefore, it is important that the staff of medical emergency teams have appropriate knowledge and proper equipment for ambulances