How to Create a Mental Health Policy for Your Nurses
Nurses are providing life-saving care for those affected with COVID-19. The psychological stress for nurses and other healthcare professionals who are at the forefront of this pandemic is substantial. To support your nurses, an understanding of the psychological effects of COVID-19 and ways to manage these outcomes is essential.
Psychological Challenges For Nurses
The mental challenges that nurses face daily are unique. Going beyond COVID-19, the psychological burden includes taking care of sick people who have no family at the bedside, concerns about the health of babies born in the hospital, and delivering care to acutely ill patients whose lives are at stake. Nurses are also gallantly serving as stand-in family for dying patients whose families can’t be with them. It is not uncommon for nurses to handle all of this stress while working understaffed.
Nurses are also balancing professional obligations with personal ones, such as caring for children out of school or elderly parents who are at the highest risk for contracting the COVID-19 virus. They are worried about their own families, and it is mentally draining for a nurse not to be available for their relatives. There are also financial stressors to consider, which adds a layer of anxiety.
As if this mental burden were not enough, nurses in direct contact with COVID-19 patients have increased levels of depression, anxiety, insomnia, and distress, according to a recent study. Every shift, nurses are facing the fear of caring for patients without life-saving personal protective equipment, which can lead to disease contraction.
Support Nurses
Strategies addressing the mental health of nurses must be in place. Support starts with acknowledging that COVID-19 has psychologically affected all nurses. Other approaches to put forth include:
-
- Verbal support
- Encouraging professional help
- Providing time and space for self-care activities
- Sharing information regarding mental health
Mental Health Check-ins and Days Off
Scheduled mental health check-ins for nurses are critical for their health and for the function of the health care organization for whom they work. Consider regular safety rounds to address the needs of nurses to ensure they have the equipment they need to deliver appropriate care. Nurses experience twice the rate of clinical depression than the general public according to studies, so an allowance of mental health days is undoubtedly justified. Time off is essential for nurses and all healthcare workers to decompress, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.
Provide Opportunities to Recharge
Sleep deprivation, lack of exercise, and poor nutrition are common among nurses working during this pandemic. Consider developing a self-care toolkit that incorporates social distancing while including a daily schedule with time to get outside, and opportunities to connect remotely with family and friends. Remember that if your nurses are not taking care of themselves, they are not going to be able to care for others.
Resources to Share
There are mental health resources for healthcare workers available. The National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI) has a helpline, (800) 950-6264, available for nurses feeling overwhelmed. Nurses can also contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) at (800) 985-5992, or the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-TALK (8255) or call 911. Nursing Career Coach is an excellent source of innovative solutions to help your healthcare organization decrease nursing turnover and increase retention during this crisis.
Contact Us Today
Nursing Career Coach has the knowledge and experience to help you create a comprehensive mental health policy for your nurses. Contact us today to learn more.
There are no comments