Mental Health Awareness: Addressing Nurse Burnout

Nurses are the backbone of patient care. When nurses are happy and well taken care of, ultimately, patients are, too. Supporting nurses and helping them find fulfillment in their jobs should be a top priority for healthcare facilities.

However, with the ongoing nursing shortage, it’s becoming increasingly challenging to ensure nurses are satisfied in their roles. Hospitals are severely understaffed, forcing nurses to handle heavy workloads and work in high-stress environments. This has led to prevalent burnout and fatigue in an already intense and demanding profession.

A survey conducted by the American Nurses Foundation in May 2023, which included over 7,400 nurses, revealed that 56% are experiencing burnout. Despite this, two-thirds are not seeking the support they need, primarily due to the stigma surrounding mental health. Many nurses fear professional repercussions if their employers find out.

Although turnover rates have decreased since the height of the pandemic, they remain higher than pre-pandemic levels. Intent to leave the profession is also still high. The same survey found that 39% of nurses are likely to leave their jobs within the next six months. 

Not only is burnout detrimental to employees, but it’s also extremely costly to organizations. One study shows that burned-out physicians are less productive and that organizations can experience an $80,000 decrease in revenue for every physician who is burned out. This is why it is crucial to address burnout in its early stages, while there is still time to correct it.

Here are three interventions healthcare facilities are employing to support nurse mental health and well-being:

1. Use Technology to Optimize Workflows

One of the most commonly reported contributors to clinician burnout is inefficiency. Nurses often feel they have no control over their workload and spend excessive time on repetitive, EHR-related tasks. Nurses report a desire to spend more time with their patients, mentor fellow nurses, and participate in professional growth opportunities.

Integrating technology into everyday nursing to automate tasks is a focus for many healthcare organizations. Care models should be reevaluated to better align nursing time with activities that have the greatest impact on patient care. A recent McKinsey report highlights the potential to free up to 15% of nurses’ time per shift by using technology to enhance task delegation within care teams. Assessing whether tasks can be improved through technology can help reduce the time pressures on nurses, allowing them to focus on more meaningful activities.

PDi interactive patient TV systems offer a valuable solution. These healthcare-grade, cloud-based, fully customizable touchscreen tablets engage patients at the point of care and improve workflow efficiency. Nurses can use medTAB22 or PDi Smart TVs to distribute patient surveys and capture real-time feedback. Patients can access applications like EPIC® MyChart® Bedside, educational videos, meal ordering, TV streaming, and more, providing hours of entertainment and distraction.

2. Better-Aligned Leadership

To alleviate burnout, it is important for leadership to be better aligned with their nursing staff. Nurses need to feel appreciated and satisfied in their jobs, which stems from knowing that their leadership team genuinely values their input. A report by KLAS Research highlights that many nurses feel the need for their leadership to listen to and acknowledge their concerns, with some worrying that leaders are prioritizing financial matters over the well-being of staff and patients.

Nurses must feel heard, supported, and valued consistently, not just sporadically. A disconnect between nurses and leadership can quickly lead to burnout and resentment. Therefore, leadership should be approachable, available, and open to feedback. When nurses can communicate candidly with their supervisors and feel that their best interests are prioritized, it can significantly improve their job satisfaction and overall well-being.

3. Accessible Mental Health Resources

When nurses experience symptoms of burnout, depression, or other mental health conditions, it's crucial for them to know that resources are available to support them. Fostering a culture where employees feel comfortable using these services without fear of judgment or consequences is essential.

Support options can range from offering free or subsidized access to therapy sessions to providing resources or training on stress management, self-monitoring, and other important mental health topics. Creating online forums or peer support groups can also offer valuable avenues for support. Investing in awareness and promotion is critical to ensure programs are utilized by employees.

Normalizing mental health discussions helps reduce the stigma, shame, and embarrassment associated with it. Nurses should be encouraged to prioritize their mental health, as it is an essential aspect of overall wellness, much like physical health. Devoting time, attention, and care to mental health is vital for maintaining well-being in all areas of life.