The purpose of this study was to describe the relative strengths of a number of variables on burnout among psychiatric nurses. A meta-analysis of correlations revealed that burnout was negatively associated with job satisfaction, staff support and involvement with the organization and positively associated with role conflict. The results of the meta-analysis were in line with results of other studies in which different populations were investigated. Therefore, the findings as such are not specific to psychiatric nurses. Based on the literature, three typical risk factors of burnout among psychiatric nurses were found: the patient group the nurse works with, such as patients who are aggressive and suicidal; the inequity in the exchange process between nurses and patients; and the unrealistic expectations of nurses of the patients' potential for rehabilitation.