Prevent Nurse Burnout

It is common knowledge that nursing can be a stressful profession. From the pace of healthcare to the diversity of interactions and relationships- being a nurse is a tough job! Additionally, it can be even more difficult to prevent nurse burnout.

In the literature we find a great amount of research, case studies, and editorials on nurse burnout. While at the same time, many of these articles fail to offer practical solutions that work.

What we need is ways to actually help our stressed out staff prevent nurse burnout. We need concrete ideas that can and do work in the workplace. We need stress reduction tips that take little time, effort, energy or money. We need solutions.

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Get Creative.

So nurses wear scrubs to work. This is common among most, if not all, nursing staff. While some organizations have instituted hospital issued scrubs, others have options when they come to work. One way to decrease stress associated with burnout is to get creative. What you may do is what these folks did in this article on taking a stress break during anti-stress week. The students from the Brookdale Institute got creative with their ‘PJ Day’. As nurses, we can do things like this in our workplace. If a PJ day works at your organization, great! If not, how about funny sock day, hat day, or different colors and patterns day. Have fun and get creative with what you already have around.

Get Organized.

While this next article pertains to helping students eliminate stress during final exams, many of the tips are applicable to nursing staff. Two I thought were really practical included the author’s suggestions to gather your equipment and get to work. You can teach your nursing staff to take proactive steps at the start of their day so that they can decrease the stress level as the day progresses. When nursing staff has the equipment that they need and plans ahead for their shift, they can move through the day with more ease. Planning as much as possible out ahead of time helps eliminate the chaos that can occur in the workplace.

Get Connected.

When a nurse feels a sense of connection, they feel supported. They are able to identify with those around them and the bigger healthcare picture overall. This can help with team morale, difficult co-workers, and even a challenging patient situation. One way you can help your nursing staff increase their connection and support is by encouraging them to tap into their spiritual side. This can mean something different to everyone. It can mean sitting outside in nature during a lunch break, taking a mindful walk around the campus, or going to the hospital chapel to sit in silence. In this post, three tips are shared to help nurses connect with their sense of self and find meaning in their work.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Which tips above have you tried with your nursing team? What others would you add to this list? Please share a comment below with a burnout prevention tip used by your nursing staff.

About the Author: As a keynote speaker, bestselling author and virtual conference host, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. During the National Nurse’s Week online conference, ‘The Art of Nursing‘, Elizabeth supports nurses in achieving professional goals of continued learning and development. Click here to find out more about how The Art of Nursing appreciates and celebrates our profession in a meaningful way.