Examines the effects of hospital restructuring and downsizing on components of psychological burnout experienced by a predominantly female sample of hospital-based nursing staff. Collects data from 1,362 staff nurses using anonymous questionnaires Considers three components of psychological burn-out: emotional exhaustion, cynicism and prfessional efficacy. Includes three blocks of predictors: personal demographics, work situation characteristics, and three different measures of demands resulting from a restructuring experience. Concludes the experience of hospital restructuring and downsizing was consistently related to a high level of emotional exhaustion and cynicism, controlling for personal demographic and work situation characteristics.