Nurse burnout is no j
oke. And what’s more… I am sure we’ve all experienced it at one time or another. Whether we feel tired while at work or overwhelmed at the thought of going back in during our day off- having a nursing career can be tough.
A recent article on Everyday Health looked into why nurses are burning out. Annette Tersigni, also known as the Yoga Nurse, was interviewed and shared openly how she felt the pressures of working as a nurse. As nurses, Annette’s experience isn’t surprising as we too have felt the effects of stress. Even the ANA survey done in 2011 found that 3 out of 4 nurses felt overworked and exhausted.
So what can we do about this? Given that nurse burnout seems to be a chronic condition- is there an answer?
While I am sharing three practical tips below, I also wanted to make you aware of a recent TED Talks video on Nursing Burnout. Four nursing students put together this educational video describing what burnout is and causes behind it. The students describe how burnout affects patient care and then offers wonderful interventions, both personally and professionally, that can help us cope. Check out this video here:
In addition to the self-care tips and work-life balance suggestions in the video above, I’d like to share three practical strategies for preventing nursing burnout.
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Practice Presence. I always say that we have to practice what we want to see happen in the future. For example, if you were a dancer or played in an orchestra, you’d practice over and over (and over) again for the ‘big day’. The same holds true for staying mindfully aware. You’ve got to practice in the quiet moments so that you can stay calm and release tension during the chaotic days of your nursing career. For this, I encourage you to start up a daily practice. This can involve a sitting meditation, chanting a mantra, or eating mindfully. Whatever you choose to do- just be sure to keep up this routine when it is quiet and you are alone. This way when you get into the busy workplace (think crowded and noisy medication room) you are less distracted… and less likely to burnout.- Allow for Release. This is another wonderful preventative step you can take. It involves letting go. By this I mean allowing yourself to be gentle. If you don’t do something perfectly or cannot master it on the first try- guess what? That’s OK- and perfectly normal. Is there some hurt that you’re holding onto or a resentment you can’t let go of? If so, be honest with yourself and see if you can release this energy. When we hold onto things we actually waste our physical and mental resources. Then, when we get into a hectic work situation we feel drained because our energy is tied up elsewhere. A great way to prevent this is to practice the art of letting go- ahead of time.
- Fill Up With the Good Stuff. Finally, focus on appreciation. When you keep in mind all of the good things, you get more of them. It’s another energetic principle that goes something like this: like attracts like. So pay attention to what you can be grateful for and you get more of it. Instead of harping on all that could go wrong with your work- find the good in your career and keep your eye on that prize.
I’d love to hear from you! What would you add to the list above or the tips provided in this video? Be sure to leave your comment below. And thanks for reading.
About the Author: As a speaker, workshop facilitator, and Reiki Master, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. As the host of The Art of Nursing virtual conference, Elizabeth guides nurses and nursing students to a change in perspective, helping them make the inner shift needed to better maneuver the sometimes challenging realities of being a caregiver.
Great Advice all around, probably most helpful to ‘newlings’ of all Health professions as well as Nurses, practicing Nurses could benefit as well, assuming they weren’t at the stage of burnout I was at, most times I refer to burnt out nurses as charcoal, well I was coal. I worked a Full-Time M-F Mgnt job in MH with it 24h/7day/wk responsibility for staffing/reporting on/off/serious incidents so on top of that I worked a reg 0.4in Addiction Services as a RN in Methadone Maintenance Stream & I worked as a Casual RN in Detox on a Callin Basis, one week, for instance, starting with Sunday I worked, S 12D, M 8d, T8d, W8d12N,T8d12N, F8d12N, S4d12N, S4d!2N; so I went beyond charcoal at that point I was coal. I actually have worse examples but they’re even more embarrassing. At least, at this point I find the stories quite amusing anyway, and true to form for my area, in a different way I did end up Mining Coal. LOL well they do say coal is making a resurgence on the Market.
Yikes- that does sound pretty burnt, Keith. Thanks for sharing your experience. I am glad you are able to see some humor in the challenge of situations. That’s always a great way to cope. And thank you for the feedback on how this post can benefit the new and experienced nurse. Great to hear!
Great tips! Presence has helped me the most not just with nursing burnout but with life as well. I have found I am most stressed when I am trying to change what it is. Constantly focusing on the future or what I could have done in the past creates nothing but chaos. When we can take the time to become present and accept each moment for what it is without worrying about the thousands of other things we have to do or the hundreds of things we forgot to do, all that is left is peace and happiness. The Power of Now by Echart Tolle taught me a great lesson, to pause and ask myself “what is wrong with this moment” I always stop and ask myself this when I begin to feel overwhelmed and it always calms me right down, because in the present moment there are no problems 🙂
Thanks for coming by, Tiffany. I appreciate the comment and information shared with our readers. I love your additional tips and am grateful for your comment.
This is a great article to help nurses cope with stress and burnout. I have experienced it my self and it took a toll on my health. Meditation, mindfullness and activities outdoors helps me cope with my stress and prevents futher burnout
Wonderful additional tips, Maureen. Thanks for sharing with the readers!
Elizabeth thank you for the great tips. I have found that practicing mindfulness and focusing on appreciation have helped me. Some other things that have helped me to prevent burn out is when I am off of work to make sure I plan some fun time in. I can get so consumed by working on my business on the days that I am off from the hospital that I can easily not plan something fun.
Another thing that has helped me is to make sure I fill myself up with nutritious foods that help give sustained energy and boost my mood. Foods like green smoothies or drinks, nuts and seeds, veggies with hummus or guacamole. These are better snacks then your sodas, chips and candy bars. (smile)
Yes! Fun is my middle name, Cassandra. So I am right there with you. Eating healthy is also a great tip as we know that the food we put into our mouths fuels our bodies! Thanks for coming by and sharing your comments.
Excellent tips and thank you for sharing this TED Talk. It is so exciting to see the work you are doing, Elizabeth to help prevent burnout and overall safe care! I was surprised to see that seasoned nurses have a lower rate of burnout although have to wonder if there might be some who left the field. Any thoughts?
Thanks Beth. Appreciate the feedback. Good point, it could be that people leave. Or it could be that they have taken the time to learn more about self-care! Definitely something to take note of and follow.
I was a stressed out ICU nurse when I first came across the understanding of how my mind works. Knowing that I create my reality moment to moment via thought, I have seen unproductive thinking drop. I realize that what I think creates the feeling and thus I have had the common sense and widsdom replace the overthinking. Knowing that we have innate health and that it is our default, we are able to find the resilience that we need and are able to recharge our batteries! am so grateful for this understanding and love sharing with other nurses! It is the cure for mental illness!
Wow, Karen. Thank you for your comments. I hope that others reading feel inspired by the fact that you were able to make these changes. And that it is helping your work overall! Thanks for sharing.
BTW, this understanding is known as The Three Principles. It is a paradigm shift in mental health. Learn more @ http://www.threeprinciplesmovies.com, http://www.3pgc.org or at my site, http://www.threeprinciplesnurse.com