Nurse Burnout: How to Cope

Nurse burnout is something that has been occurring for years. The COVID pandemic exacerbated an already fragile healthcare system. In today's live we will be discussing nurse burnout and how to cope.

How to combat burnout

- On your days off decompress: exercise, meditate, Crossfit, yoga etc
- Find hobbies
- Socialize
- Switch units: OR, Peds, NICU, Labor and delivery, hospice, oncology, mental health, ALF, education
- Cut back on hours, go PT
- Set limits with administration: notice gaslighting
- Stop trying to people please
- It’s ok to pivot, move out of the ED if it’s making you unhappy
- If you find yourself not caring about patients being jaded at their suffering it’s time to leave that unit
- Put your oxygen mask on first
- I’m an idealist I want to change the world but when I see the situation will not be changing for the foreseeable future then you must change your environment.
- Research and vote for politicians that are interested in nursing issues such as safe staffing
- Join your nursing organizations and advocate or even create legislation

Dangers of Nurse Burnout

Nurse burnout is a substantial concern for all concerned: nurses, employers, and patients. Nurses themselves are at risk for developing depressive disorders and other mental health conditions and for quitting their job. For institutions, a decrease in the quality of patient care can affect their reputation and bottom line. For patients, nurse burnout can directly impact their health.

Turnover

In a study in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health,9 researchers found a correlation between higher rates of burnout syndrome and nurses’ intention to leave. This increased turnover puts more stress on an already overworked environment.

Lower Quality of Care

The most dangerous risk associated with burnout is a decrease in the quality of patient care and patient safety. Mistakes due to exhaustion can lead to patient discomfort, infection, and even (in extreme cases) death. One study found that the patients of staff nurses experiencing burnout had an increased incidence of urinary tract and surgical site infections

In a study by Marshall University, nurse-to-patient ratios greater than 1:4 were not only correlated with higher percentages of burnout—but for each patient added to that ratio, there was a 7% increase in hospital mortality.11

How Nurses Can Prevent Burnout

So how to prevent nurse burnout? Fortunately, it’s possible to prevent nurse burnout before it occurs—and to treat it immediately when it happens. For medical institutions, preventing nurse burnout protects their employees, patients, and their bottom line. Nurse managers and nurse leaders can initiate burnout prevention and help lower the risk in their workplace. And nurses themselves can take preventive and therapeutic measures for self-care.

Improve Schedules

Whenever possible, nurse managers should create humane schedules for their staff, with shift lengths of 9 hours maximum. If you’re a nurse, try to work in a facility that treats its workers well. Avoid working overtime, and advocate for a schedule that lets you live a balanced and healthy life, leaving time and energy for loved ones and your favorite activities.

Take Breaks

Be sure to take your vacation days so you can deeply relax and get a change of scenery. To encourage this, institutions can introduce a mandatory vacation day policy with a quarterly check to make sure their staff are taking the time they need. This helps to increase job satisfaction and decrease the turnover rate among healthcare professionals.

Seek Out Support

Support groups and work buddy systems can give you an outlet to vent frustrations and discuss conflicts and challenges so that when you go home or on vacation, you can truly relax. When you and your peers feel heard, this can also improve teamwork and collaboration. If you are a tired nurse feeling hopeless or depressed, or experiencing the burnout symptoms, be sure to seek out the help of a therapist or counselor.

Learn Coping Methods

One of the best ways to manage your work stressors is to learn coping skills. Methods such as breathing techniques, restorative exercise, journaling, and a post-work relaxation routine can make a big difference in your physical and mental health and well-being as a healthcare worker.

Change Specialties or Focus

Finally, if your current specialty is too stressful, consider making a change. Earning your graduate nursing degree, such as your Master of Science in Nursing or Doctor of Nursing Practice, can enable you to switch to a specialty that’s a better fit. Becoming a family nurse practitioner could give you more autonomy in your practice, or you might consider mentoring the next generation of clinicians as a nurse educator.