Emotional Exhaustion and Workload Demands of Kidney Transplant Social Workers

Abstract

This exploratory study examined training issues, emotional exhaustion and workload demands in U.S. kidney transplant social workers. Online survey data were obtained from 91 respondents who represented all 18 End-Stage Renal Disease networks. Findings indicated that the majority of the respondents’ employers provided resources for educational training and paid time off associated with these trainings. With regard to hours per week spent on specific job tasks, respondents indicated that pretransplant activities were the most time-consuming, followed by post-transplant and inpatient work. Generally, emotional exhaustion and workload demands were slightly lower than reported for dialysis social workers. Implications for social work practice and research are discussed.