Most nurse leaders understand that nurses are experiencing increased amounts of stress, depression, burnout, suicide, and other mental health concerns exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Yet we continue to struggle with getting the right support to nurses that could mitigate these issues. Do you suppose leaders and policy makers believe this mental health issue will go away?
Nurses, now over five million strong, make up the largest group of healthcare providers in the United States and its territories?1 Nurses are responsible for ensuring patients receive exemplary care each time they access healthcare services. The care nurses administer to patients is unique because nurses spend more time with patients than any other healthcare provider, we advocate for patients, ensure they are on the right path to health by teaching them about their care needs. We alleviate their suffering, and as an integral member of the healthcare team, we save lives. Nurses are critical to improving the health of our communities and we continue to be the backbone of healthcare, but at what cost! What is the burden to society if we do not solve the health and wellbeing issues of nurses? What is the human cost to one nurse if we don’t get this right?
Did you know that mental health concerns are already documented not only in the media but also in literature? All groups identified that nurses, a crucial link to patients, experienced and continue to suffer from negative mental health issues now exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. To further understand the suffering nurses experienced specifically during the Covid-19 pandemic, CNN developed an expose which chronicled the lives of 3 nurses.2 Though that expose is 4 months old, the suffering of nurses was well depicted, and that suffering continues to escalate without an end in sight.
Researchers with the American Psychological Association suggest the next pandemic will be a mental health epidemic, as essential workers who took care of Covid-19 patients were identified as more likely to be diagnosed with a mental disorder.3 As leaders, are we OK with that?
A longitudinal study of approximately 2500 nurse leaders commissioned by the American Organization for Nursing Leadership (AONL) identified mental health and wellbeing of staff as the top challenge now and moving forward.4
Scientists with federal and state government agencies found that emotional health concerns such as depression, stress, burnout, and suicidal thoughts were highest in public health workers during the Covid-19 pandemic.5 Again, are we OK with these implications?
But you say, that is the literature, my nurses are, ok? Well, if nurses are ok, then why do we have such a challenging time finding experienced nurses to practice in specialty areas? Why is the nursing profession losing talented nurses? Why are nurses calling out when scheduled? Why are nurses still carrying the weight of not being able to adequately help their patients during the pandemic even when they knew what was needed to assist them back to health?
Some suggest healthcare providers are heroes because we put our lives on the line for others. We did put our lives on the ‘line’ for our patients, families, friends, and members of our communities, BUT we are also human. We have feelings and we hurt too! See us for who we are, human beings.
Back to my original question? Are we looking at this ongoing emotional health and wellbeing issue of our amazing nurses through the ‘correct’ lens? What lens are you seeing this health and wellbeing crisis through? The lens of humanity, authenticity, compassion, and caring? Or?
What could a compassionate, caring, authentic leader do about the emotional strain that nurses are experiencing? As an executive leader, what about adopting some or all the following suggestions, and these are by no means exhaustive?
1. Make the emotional health and wellbeing of your teams, your highest priority.
2. Create a culture that promotes psychological safety. A culture where nurses are not afraid to say they are hurting. A culture that promotes a holistic approach to health and wellbeing.
3. Immediately communicate to your nurses that they are to seek help when they experience distress. Communicate your full acceptance of them when they do seek help.
4. Engage your HR Benefits and Financial teams to add a robust health and wellbeing package to your organization’s benefits plan.
If you are a nurse who is experiencing stress, burnout, and any other emotional health issues, what can you do? Only one thing.
- Get HELP! Call someone, reach out to a hotline, call your doctor. Do something! Why because you are human, and you matter!
References
1. National Council of State Boards of Nursing. (2021). Active RN Licenses: A Profile of Nursing Licensure in the US. Retrieved https://www.ncsbn.org/6161.htm on June 28, 2021.
2. Andrew, S. & Jennings, K. (2021). Traumatized and Suffering, Nurses are quitting due to the Pandemic. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/25/us/nurses-quit-hospitals-covid-pandemic-trnd/index.html on June 28, 2021.
3. American Psychological Association. (2021). Stress in America,™ One Year Later, A New Wave of Pandemic Concerns. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/sia-pandemic-report.pdf on June 28, 2021.
4. American Organization for Nursing Leadership & Joslin Marketing. (2021). Nursing Leadership Covid-19 Study. Retrieved from https://www.aonl.org/resources/nursing-leadership-covid-19-survey on June 28, 2021.
5. Bryant-Genevier, J. & et al. (2021). Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Suicidal Ideation Among State, Tribal, Local, and Territorial Public Health Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, March–April 2021. Center for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 25, 2021. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/pdfs/mm7026e1-H.pdf on June 28, 2021.