Abstract
Nurses are highly susceptible to job burnout, which can negatively impact both their well-being and the quality of patient care. Addressing this issue is crucial for maintaining an effective healthcare workforce. Although some research has indicated a connection between job burnout and an intolerance of uncertainty, the fundamental mechanisms of this association have not been investigated. This study aims to fill this gap by exploring the underlying pathways through which intolerance of uncertainty influences job burnout, providing insights for targeted interventions. For the questionnaire survey, 857 clinical nurses were selected using a convenience selection method. Resilience, change fatigue, job burnout, and intolerance of uncertainty were measured by the IUS-12, CF, CD-RISC, and CMBI, respectively. In this study, structural equation modeling was employed to analyze the direct and indirect effects among these variables, with model fit indices ensuring statistical robustness. Bootstrapping was used to test the significance of mediation effects, enhancing the reliability of the findings. Change fatigue and resilience, respectively, acted as mediators in the relationship between job burnout and intolerance of uncertainty. Resilience and change fatigue served as chain mediators between intolerance of uncertainty and job burnout (total mediating effect = 0.320, effect percentage = 42.2%). To mitigate job burnout, nursing managers should implement specific measures, such as resilience-building training programs, stress management workshops, and initiatives to improve team support and communication. These interventions should be designed to alleviate change fatigue and enhance resilience, thus reducing burnout levels.