Surreal illustration of a doctor transitioning from a stressful operating room environment to a calming natural landscape, symbolizing burnout recovery.

Burnout Among Anesthesia Providers: Are You at Risk?

Reese Marlowe in Health & Wellness August 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the factors contributing to emotional exhaustion in anesthesia professionals and strategies to combat burnout."

Burnout, characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of personal accomplishment, is a significant concern in healthcare. It leads to decreased job satisfaction, mental health issues, and compromised patient care. Studies reveal that 30% to 65% of medical professionals experience burnout, making it crucial to understand and address this issue.

A recent study investigated burnout among anesthesia providers, including physicians, residents, and certified nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The research aimed to identify burnout rates and contributing factors within a large academic anesthesiology department. By understanding the prevalence and causes of burnout, healthcare organizations can implement targeted interventions to support their staff.

This article delves into the findings of the study, exploring the rates of emotional exhaustion among different anesthesia provider types and discussing potential factors contributing to burnout. It also highlights strategies for healthcare leaders to identify and support those at risk, ultimately promoting both provider well-being and quality patient care.

Who's Feeling the Heat? Emotional Exhaustion Among Anesthesia Providers

Surreal illustration of a doctor transitioning from a stressful operating room environment to a calming natural landscape, symbolizing burnout recovery.

The study, utilizing the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS), gathered data from 89 anesthesia providers: 39 staff anesthesiologists, 18 residents, and 32 CRNAs. The survey assessed emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment to determine burnout levels.

Residents reported the highest levels of emotional exhaustion compared to staff anesthesiologists and CRNAs. Specifically, 38.9% of residents experienced high emotional exhaustion, compared to 28.2% of staff anesthesiologists and 12.5% of CRNAs.

Workload and Schedule: Residents often face unpredictable schedules and longer hours compared to staff and CRNAs.
Lack of Control: The unpredictable nature of resident schedules and relief times may contribute to increased emotional exhaustion.
Experience: Residents may be more susceptible to emotional exhaustion due to their relative inexperience in handling high-pressure situations.

The study also found that increased workload correlated with higher emotional exhaustion rates. CRNAs, who typically worked 36-40 hours per week, reported lower exhaustion levels than staff (45-50 hours) and residents (55-60 hours).

Fighting Burnout: Strategies for a Healthier Anesthesia Team

The study underscores the importance of recognizing and addressing burnout among anesthesia providers, particularly residents. Healthcare leaders should prioritize strategies to mitigate burnout and support the well-being of their teams.

Implementing wellness-based interventions can effectively reduce physician burnout. These include exercise programs, mindfulness training, and efforts to improve work-life balance. Creating a supportive environment where providers feel valued and have access to resources can make a significant difference.

Some strategies include staggered shifts, predictable scheduling, and workload reduction. By understanding the factors that contribute to burnout, healthcare organizations can create a healthier and more sustainable work environment, ultimately improving both provider well-being and patient care.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1080/13548506.2018.1546019, Alternate LINK

Title: Emotional Exhaustion Among Anesthesia Providers At A Tertiary Care Center Assessed Using The Mbi Burnout Survey

Subject: Psychiatry and Mental health

Journal: Psychology, Health & Medicine

Publisher: Informa UK Limited

Authors: Abha Shah, Matthew Wyatt, Bethany Gourneau, Grace Shih, Martin De Ruyter

Published: 2018-11-19

Everything You Need To Know

What is burnout and why is it important in the context of anesthesia providers?

Burnout is characterized by emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and a lack of personal accomplishment. In the context of anesthesia providers, it's a significant concern due to its potential impact on job satisfaction, mental health, and patient care. The study specifically focused on emotional exhaustion as a key indicator of burnout among staff anesthesiologists, residents, and certified nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). High levels of emotional exhaustion can lead to decreased performance and negatively affect the quality of care delivered by the anesthesia providers.

What is emotional exhaustion and how does it relate to the study's findings?

Emotional exhaustion is a key component of burnout and was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory-Human Services Survey (MBI-HSS). The study found residents reported the highest levels of emotional exhaustion compared to staff anesthesiologists and CRNAs. This means a higher percentage of residents reported feeling emotionally drained and depleted. Contributing factors to emotional exhaustion include workload and schedule, lack of control, and experience. Identifying these factors allows healthcare organizations to implement targeted interventions to support their staff and improve patient care.

What did the study reveal about burnout rates among different types of anesthesia providers?

The study investigated the prevalence of burnout among different anesthesia provider types: staff anesthesiologists, residents, and certified nurse anesthetists (CRNAs). The study revealed a significant difference in emotional exhaustion levels. Residents reported the highest rates of emotional exhaustion compared to staff anesthesiologists and CRNAs, with 38.9% of residents experiencing high emotional exhaustion. The study also found that CRNAs, who typically worked 36-40 hours per week, reported lower exhaustion levels than staff (45-50 hours) and residents (55-60 hours). This suggests that workload is a major contributing factor to burnout.

What factors contribute to emotional exhaustion among anesthesia providers?

Several factors were identified as potential contributors to emotional exhaustion among anesthesia providers. Increased workload, particularly for residents who often work longer hours and have unpredictable schedules, was found to correlate with higher emotional exhaustion rates. Lack of control over schedules and relief times, particularly for residents, also contributed to exhaustion. Additionally, the relative inexperience of residents in handling high-pressure situations may make them more susceptible to emotional exhaustion. Healthcare leaders can address these factors through strategies such as workload management, improved scheduling, and providing support and training.

How can healthcare leaders address burnout among anesthesia providers?

Healthcare leaders can play a crucial role in mitigating burnout among anesthesia providers, particularly residents. They should prioritize strategies to support their teams by understanding the factors contributing to emotional exhaustion, such as workload and lack of control, and implementing interventions to address these issues. These interventions can include workload management, flexible scheduling, providing adequate support systems, and promoting a healthy work environment. By taking proactive steps, healthcare leaders can improve provider well-being and, ultimately, the quality of patient care.