Resource Guide
5 tips to combat nurse burnout
Nursing is among the most rewarding careers you can pursue, but it can also be demanding. Nurse burnout is a condition associated with emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by job-related stressors such as long hours, sleep deprivation, exposure to infectious viruses and diseases, and other factors.
Medscape’s Nurse Career Satisfaction Report, which polled more than 10,400 nurses in the summer of 2020, found that burnout rates among registered nurses, nurse practitioners, and nurse midwives had doubled, and in some cases quadrupled, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey conducted by the American Nurses Association during December 2020 found similar results; more than 70% of respondents reported feeling exhausted.
While the development and administration of COVID-19 vaccines has improved the pandemic outlook, nurses still face the risk of burnout. If you’re a current or aspiring nurse, learning how to identify the elements associated with nurse burnout, and understanding how to develop strategies to overcome them, are crucial skills.
Nurse burnout is caused by a variety of factors, such as long shifts, the nationwide nursing shortage, understaffing, and lack of sleep. Other factors may include:
● Working in a high-stress environment
● Occupational stressors, such as dealing with death and sickness
● Increased workloads or the inability to complete all work by the end of a shift
● Unsupportive leadership
● Lack of teamwork
● Working with combative patients
● Emotional and physical exhaustion
The Well-Being Index reports there are numerous symptoms associated with nurse burnout, such as anxiety, changes in appetite, and disruption of sleep habits. Others may include:
● Apathy
● Lack of motivation
● Decreased job satisfaction
● Frustration
● Substance abuse
● Frequent illness
● Frequent absences from work
● Headaches
● Cynicism
Burnout among health care workers not only affects nurses’ mental health, but also negatively impacts patient care. For example, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Patient Safety Net reports that burnout has been associated with increased patient safety incidents, including medical errors, reduced patient satisfaction, and poorer safety and quality ratings.
In contrast, a study published in the journal Medical Care reports that “patients cared for on units that nurses characterized as having adequate staff, good administrative support for nursing care, and good relations between doctors and nurses were more than twice as likely as other patients to report high satisfaction with their care, and their nurses reported significantly lower burnout.”
A February 2021 report by CNN found that some nurses' stress came to a head in the final months of 2020, as hospitalizations and COVID-19 mortality rates spiked. In addition to working extended shifts, needing to reuse personal protective equipment (PPE), and canceling previously scheduled time off, many nurses say they sat with COVID patients in their final moments so they wouldn’t have to face death alone.
The mental health impact of working during the pandemic has been pronounced, and in many ways, existing problems in health care were made worse by COVID-19.
Jean Ross, president of National Nurses United, told CNN that before COVID-19, nurses had been increasingly told to do more with less, including covering more hospital beds, handling more patients, and working longer hours. “Many nurses feel they can't provide the best care when they're stretched so thin,” Ross said, adding the pandemic has exacerbated these and other existing problems.
If you’re an RN who feels overwhelmed, overworked, or overstressed, there are steps you can take to combat burnout and fatigue. Nurse burnout often builds over time, which makes early recognition important.
1. Watch for signs of burnout
Fatigue, irritability, and changes in energy levels can be early signs of burnout. Other symptoms, such as declining job performance, mental and physical exhaustion, disengagement from coworkers, and the others mentioned above, may also be prevalent. If you are experiencing symptoms of burnout, seek help before the symptoms worsen.
2. Identify your stressors
If you are experiencing burnout, you should take an inventory of your stressors. For example, if you feel overwhelmed with your workload, avoid taking on new responsibilities and delegate tasks, if possible. Once individual stressors are identified, strategies can be developed to reduce them.
3. Take a break
Taking a quick break to drink a cup of coffee or eat a meal can help you reset. Taking days off to rest, relax, and recover can also help. If you feel extremely burned out, you may need to take additional time off. Taking a sabbatical will not only help you get away from the clinical environment, but it can also help you unplug and recharge.
4. Practice self-care
Practicing self-care can improve your professional situation, as it can relieve stress and increase your mental, emotional, and physical well-being. Consequently, if you’re experiencing symptoms of burnout, make sure you’re getting enough sleep, making time to exercise, and eating healthy snacks and meals.
5. Focus on what you love about nursing
Do you feel overworked or overwhelmed? Remind yourself of the reasons you became a nurse. For example, did you become a nurse because you wanted to make a daily difference in people’s lives? Were you drawn to this career path because you wanted to help patients and their families get through often difficult times? Reflect on the times you’ve felt satisfaction in your job.
Nurse burnout is at an all-time high. If you’re feeling burned out, remember to breathe, take time for yourself, and keep up with your hobbies on your days off. Seek out a social support network, practice self-care, and ask for help if you need it. Lastly, if you need additional help improving your mental health and well-being, ask your employer about various resources that are available to you, including emotional support services.
Are you considering a career in nursing? Learning about the various aspects of the nursing industry — such as job growth projections, common work environments, and even nurse burnout and the ways to relieve it — are key elements for discovering whether nursing is the right career path for you.
