5 Ways to Support Your Nurses Experiencing Burnout 

If stress is a result of over-engagement, then burnout is disengagement. It is physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion that leads to a dulling of emotions and a feeling of detachment. Healthcare facilities pay the price for burnout because it often results in lower patient satisfaction. Nurse burnout is a result of several factors, including: 

• Long shifts 
• Putting others first 
• High-stress environments 
• Coping with sickness and death 

There are steps that your facility can take to support your nursing staff, who might be experiencing the emotional exhaustion of burnout. 

Train Leaders to Identify Burnout 

Nursing leadership is a vital player in the recognition and prevention of nursing burnout. These leaders must receive training in recognition of employees who are disengaged. Signs may include an increase in the frequency of call-offs, withdrawal from relationships, and frustration with small inconveniences. When leadership takes a proactive approach, a door opens for finding ways of addressing stress levels before burnout becomes a severe problem. 

Nurse-to-Patient Ratios 

A high nurse-to-patient ratio leads to an increase in burnout rates. Research suggests that hospitals with high nurse-to-patient ratios are more than twice as likely to experience high levels of emotional exhaustion in their nursing staff. The reduction of nurse-to-patient ratios indeed requires additional staff; however, high nurse turnover, reduced patient satisfaction, and poor patient outcomes offset the expense of hiring additional nurses.  

Support Programs 

The implementation of nursing support and wellness programs within your institution can help your nursing staff cope with the stress of the profession. Instructing nurses in more efficient break scheduling, meetings to discuss health, and the creation of comfortable break areas can all benefit your nurses’ welfare. Listen to your nursing staff and address their needs with strategies to help them. 

Include Nurses in Discussions Regarding Policy 

Active involvement in policy discussions is an excellent way to combat nurse burnout. You can fight emotional exhaustion by allowing your nursing staff to participate in the decision making that directly affects their work. One study states that hospitals that actively involve nurses in their decision-making process put themselves in a better position to attract and retain nursing staff. Allowing nurses to play an active role in discussions that directly affect their job will help your institution fight nurse burnout.  

Involvement in Scheduling 

12-hour shifts are long, and many nurses typically work these lengthy shifts. Not surprisingly, several of these shifts in a row can result in fatigue. Many nurses believe that having control of their schedules can reduce fatigue and give them a better work/life balance. Although self-scheduling may not be an option for your healthcare facility, collaboration among nurse managers and staffing offices can create schedules that work for everyone.  

Call Nursing Career Coach Today

If your healthcare facility is facing nurse burnout, Nursing Career Coach can help you. Nursing Career Coach can assist your leadership team in creating solutions to support programs to improve employee satisfaction and engagement. Nursing Career Coach also offers the wellness counseling your nursing staff needs to perform to the best of their abilities.