The healthcare industry and our nursing profession are in crisis. We are working in a time when the successful delivery of evidence-based, quality healthcare is even more challenging and stressful, based on many factors. Many of the concerns are outside our healthcare organizations and beyond our individual control as nurse leaders and clinicians: Government regulations, access issues, a dwindling workforce, concerns about economic instability, and a world filled with social and political conflict are leading to additional life stressors in a profession that already has a high baseline for it.
How Life Stressors Impact Nurses at Work
Every day we work alongside individuals who are personally affected by many of these issues. While the roots of many life stressors are beyond what our organizations or we as individuals can control, we need to understand the current circumstances and act. The pressures of life affect many co-workers and colleagues, even those who don't show it.
As a tenured nurse leader, I have witnessed multiple accounts of the adverse effects of life on the psychological well-being of those in a profession where we vow to give our all in caring for others. Recent times have led to an almost universal sense of unease for many of our colleagues, the patients we care for, our friends and our families.
Why Nurse Leader Support for Staff Mental Health Matters
Life has inevitable stressors, highs and lows. Health issues, death, divorce, addiction, abuse and financial strain don't discriminate based on sex, age, ethnicity, educational level, job title or income. In my time as a nurse leader, I have supported some of the seemingly most positive and high-achieving staff navigate unforeseen health problems, pursue treatment for addiction, deal with unimaginable loss in their personal lives and seek financial assistance.
As nurses and healthcare providers, we often witness our patients' lowest, most traumatic moments in life. We show up every day and commit to caring and supporting them on their worst days. It's unnerving to consider how many of our nursing colleagues care for others but may be experiencing personal stress outside the workplace.
Hidden Struggles: Recognizing Signs of Nurse Burnout and Distress
Take a moment to reflect upon a time in your life in which you showed up to work while navigating personal struggles. How about a time you worked with a colleague you knew was battling personal issues? Could you currently be working with someone who is facing insurmountable pressures in their life outside the hospital?
How often do we show up, assess the well-being of our colleagues, and offer structured support for each other with the same sense of duty we commit to caring for our patients? Perhaps not often enough. This is a call to action.
How Nurse Leaders Can Promote Mental Health in the Workplace
It is often difficult for nurse leaders to gauge the mental health needs of their staff due to the stigma related to mental health conditions. The strongest and highest-performing achievers at work often do not want to admit their own weaknesses. Although widely available, mental health services offered by employee assistance programs (EAPs) are often underused. Many staff may struggle with their own mental health but avoid seeking help due to the stigma, fear of discrimination or concerns about being perceived as weak, leading to underuse of resources such as EAPs.
Overcoming Stigma: Encouraging Nurses to Use Mental Health Resources
Nurse leaders and their fellow healthcare professionals can form a strong support system, offering unique opportunities for support paired with a much-needed dose of empathy. Leaders should make it clear that mental and emotional health is a priority. Top-down measures can help establish workplace cultures that advocate wellness in all its forms, such as promoting work-life balance, access to therapy, and more autonomy and empowerment for nurses.
Practical Ways to Communicate and Check in With Your Nursing Team
The first step to a healthy work environment that promotes employees' mental and emotional health is being honest and modeling behaviors that support our caregivers' health. Leaders need to be forthright about mental health challenges, demonstrating empathy for nurses and other healthcare workers who struggle, while also making it clear that they are determined to drive change. Authentic leadership, one of AACN's six standards for a Healthy Work Environment (HWE), calls on nurse leaders to commit to establishing an HWE, leading with integrity, and inspiring teams to make it happen.
It is not enough to send emails or tell nurses and other staff that their psychological well-being is important. We must proactively offer support and use skilled communication, another HWE standard, on resources available to all within our organizations.
It is also important to recognize the educational and cultural nuances of our communication approach: Employees have diverse backgrounds and educational levels. We need to recognize that personal life struggles aren't exclusive to one group or language. Are your organization's resources easily accessible to all?
One simple nursing leadership strategy is to ask your team specific rounding questions that assess their awareness of available resources and support. Ask them, "Are you aware of the mental health and well-being resources available at our company, and do you feel supported by your colleagues and leaders regarding your personal well-being?" It is vital to create a nursing work environment where staff feel safe and empowered to answer these questions honestly.
Well-Being Resources for Nurses
Most organizations have company-specific employee resources. These employee assistance programs and other well-being initiatives often encompass mental, financial and spiritual health resources for staff. Human resource departments can help you navigate what is available for you and your team.
Additional Resources
American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN):
American Nurses Association: Preventing Nurse Suicide and Increasing Resilience | ANA's American Nurses Foundation
National Institutes of Health: Emotional Wellness Toolkit — More Resources
Oregon Center for Nursing: Resources — RN Well-Being Project
Call to Action: Make Nurses' Mental Health a Leadership Priority
In conclusion, the pressures of our world affect the lives of many nurses, even those who don't show it. Assessing and supporting colleagues' well-being should be as essential as patient care. Leaders must ensure that all staff are aware of and able to access the support they need.
Are you sure you want to delete this Comment?