Hurley, Kate, Ahern, Tracey, and Hartin, Peter (2026) Factors Contributing to Emotional Burnout in Newly Registered Nurses in Australia: A Scoping Review. Nursing Open, 13 (6). e70619.

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Abstract

Aim Around 15,000 graduate registered nurses enter the Australian workforce each year, forming a critical component of a sustainable and skilled workforce. However, the Australian healthcare system continues to face major challenges in the recruitment and retention of nurses. This review aimed to explore the existing literature on emotional burnout among Australian registered nurses during their first year of practice.

Design A scoping review was conducted using Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework to map and synthesise peer-reviewed primary research on emotional burnout in graduate registered nurses.

Methods A comprehensive search of five electronic databases was conducted, including CINAHL, Medline, Emcare, Scopus and PsycINFO, in December 2024. Eligible studies included primary research examining emotional burnout among Australian registered nurses during their first year of practice. Data were charted and reported through a narrative synthesis informed by thematic analysis.

Results Six studies met the inclusion criteria, spanning 20 years of research. Three main themes emerged: unsupportive workplaces, role stress and workload expectations.

Conclusion Without addressing the challenges that graduate registered nurses face, emotional burnout and attrition from the profession are likely to persist, placing increased pressure on the healthcare workforce.

Item ID:	92080
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	2054-1058
Keywords:	graduate registered nurse, newly registered nurse, emotional exhaustion, mental fatigue, role stress
Copyright Information:	This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited, the use is non- commercial and no modifications or adaptations are made. © 2026 The Author(s). Nursing Open published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Date Deposited:	11 Jun 2026 02:08
FoR Codes:	42 HEALTH SCIENCES > 4205 Nursing > 420505 Nursing workforce @ 100%
SEO Codes:	20 HEALTH > 2099 Other health > 209999 Other health not elsewhere classified @ 100%
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