Legal Protection for Nurses Experiencing Burnout in the Indonesian Health System

Abstract

Burnout among nurses is a mental health problem caused by chronic workplace stress that affects nurses' well-being, healthcare quality, and patient safety. Although Law Number 17 of 2023 on Health provides legal protection for healthcare professionals, it does not explicitly regulate burnout as a psychosocial occupational risk. This study aimed to analyze the legal framework for protecting nurses' mental health, examine burnout as a health law issue, and formulate strategies to strengthen legal protection for nurses experiencing burnout. This study employed normative legal research using statutory, conceptual, and comparative approaches. Data were collected through a literature review of legislation, official government documents, WHO and ILO guidelines, and relevant scientific publications. The data were analyzed qualitatively using content analysis. The findings indicate that legal protection for nurses' mental health in Indonesia remains general and does not specifically regulate burnout prevention or management. Burnout has significant legal implications because it may reduce healthcare quality, increase the risk of medical errors, and threaten patient safety. Strengthening regulations on psychosocial risk management, workload management, mental health services, and psychological screening is therefore necessary. Burnout is a health law issue that requires stronger legal regulations to protect nurses and improve the quality of healthcare services.