Nursing is a demanding job, and it requires physical, emotional, and mental resilience for a nurse to be successful in their role. However, even the most resilient and professional nurses can experience burnout, compassion fatigue, stress, depression, anxiety, and overall struggles with their mental health on the job.
May recognizes both Nurses Week and Mental Health Awareness Month. So, now is the perfect time to consider how nurses can get the support they need to do their jobs well and feel mentally healthy while doing so. Addressing mental health in nursing is not just beneficial for nurses; it is also necessary for a more compassionate and collaborative healthcare team and a more effective, sustainable healthcare system overall.
In this blog, we have compiled some helpful information about the challenges nurses face, self-care resources nurses can use to improve and maintain their mental health, and what organizations can do to help support nurses’ mental health challenges.
Struggle in the Workplace: Burnout, Shortages, and Mental Health Challenges
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected that the openings for registered nurses will grow at a rate of 6% between 2023 and 2033. That’s faster than average, adding approximately 197,200 new, open roles to the already 3,300,100 that existed at the time of the survey. Unfortunately, the pace of retirement is accelerating, meaning there is heavy demand for new nurses to fill new roles and openings every day.
But, there is a complication in the field. Burnout, nurse shortages, and other issues have led to many nurses stepping away from the bedside or nursing completely. Reasons nurses are struggling in the workplace and may choose to leave their job include:
- Compassion fatigue: This happens when a person who is usually motivated to help others feels less or unable to do so due to burnout, overwhelm, or empathy fatigue.
- Workplace violence: Nurse abuse is a real problem in many healthcare scenarios. Threats of violence, harassment, and intimidation can occur among staff, between nurses and families, or even between nurses and the patients they serve. Data has shown that one in four nurses is assaulted and as much as 13% of workdays missed by nurses are related to workplace violence.
- Burnout: Burnout is when nurses are emotionally, mentally, and physically exhausted because of chronic stress. This stress can be caused by overwork, demanding case loads, their own personal lives or health issues, or not having the emotional support needed in the workplace.
- The nursing shortage: There are many factors affecting mental health for nurses, and one is the nursing shortage. Reasons for that shortage include a lack of nursing school faculty, nurses leaving the workforce post-pandemic, and an increased demand for nurses overall.
Addressing these issues will be a necessity if the healthcare industry is going to attract new talent to the field and keep the nurses working today in their careers for the long term.
Prioritizing Nurses’ Mental Health
There are many ways to address stress, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and other mental health challenges that are impacting nurses today. Nurses can also reach out to their mental health provider or to support groups to learn more about what to do to improve their mental health.
Self-Care Tips for Nurses
- Take breaks: Nurses should take regular breaks to rest and recharge. This can help prevent burnout and allow them to provide better care for their patients. Taking time off may be necessary to get the rest and recovery time they need.
- Prioritize self-care activities: Nurses should make time for activities that help them relax and unwind, such as hobbies, exercise, meditation, or spending time with loved ones.
- Seek support: It’s important for nurses to have a strong support system in place, whether it’s through friends, family, colleagues, or a therapist. Talking about their experiences and emotions can help nurses process their feelings and prevent them from becoming overwhelmed.
- Set boundaries: Nurses should learn to say no when they are feeling overwhelmed or overburdened. Setting boundaries can help prevent feelings of resentment and burnout.
- Practice self-compassion: Nurses should treat themselves with kindness and compassion, especially during challenging times. Self-compassion can help prevent feelings of guilt or inadequacy and promote positive mental health.
- Healthy habits: Maintaining good habits like a morning routine, regular exercise, eating nutritious food, and good sleep hygiene can help reduce stress.
- Stress relief: Practicing techniques such as meditation or breathing exercises can help relax nurses’ bodies and minds before or after a difficult shift.
Resources
- Operation Happy Nurse: Operation Happy Nurse is a free resource that gives you tools to fight nurse burnout, manage mental and emotional strain, and get support.
- NurseJournal: This site has compiled a comprehensive list of mental health hotlines, resources, and organizations for nurses. It also has a list of symptoms that nurses can use to assess their current mental health.
- Professional organizations: Associations such as the American Nurses Association (ANA) provide resources on mental health awareness, initiatives to end nurse abuse, and access to peer support networks.
- Employee resource programs: EAPs provide confidential counseling services and referrals to mental health professionals. Many healthcare organizations also offer wellness programs that focus on stress management, resilience building, and self-care practices.
By utilizing these resources and techniques, nurses can better cope with the challenges of their profession and maintain a healthy work-life balance.
What Healthcare Organizations Can Do to Help Nurses
In the fast-paced and demanding world of healthcare, it is crucial for organizations to prioritize their nurses and manage the high levels of stress, trauma, and emotional strain they deal with on a daily basis. By taking proactive steps to support the mental health of nurses, healthcare systems can not only improve the well-being of their staff but also enhance patient care and overall organizational success.
Training and Professional Development
Healthcare organizations can support their nurses and staff by providing ongoing training in areas such as communication skills, emotional resilience, and stress management. By focusing on building skills and encouraging individuals to support their mental health, organizations can work to minimize stress and burnout and improve communication and resilience.
Stress Management Programs
Implementing a program that teaches relaxation techniques, mindfulness, or other tactics can make a difference. Healthcare organizations should also support nurses having regular breaks, spaces to decompress or rest, and guidance through support groups or management. Technology-driven solutions to support nursing staff, such as telehealth counseling or mobile apps that support mental health tracking, can also be effective tools.
Company Support
Finally, don’t forget that the impact of administrative or managerial support can be critical. When a healthcare organization has a culture of support and open communication, nurses can feel comfortable speaking out about their concerns. Good leadership, including leaders who actively listen, builds trust among staff, encourages a more welcoming environment, and affects meaningful change. Hospitals and other healthcare facilities can also improve nurses’ mental health by maintaining adequate staffing levels and ensuring nurses have the support they need on the job.
SHC Supports Our Nurses
At Supplemental Health Care, we believe that nurses deserve care as much as their patients do. We are committed to providing mental health resources to our healthcare workers serving our communities. It is our goal to provide nurses with the tools they need to manage stress and mental well-being, as well as support to find the right role and work-life balance for their careers.
To learn more about nursing opportunities at Supplemental Health Care, search our job portal or download the SHC WeConnect app to get new job alerts. And stay up to date on the latest healthcare news, advice, and stories on our blog!
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