Burnout affects more than just nurses
When nurses are stressed, overworked, and the list of ‘don’ts’ and ‘can’ts’ is greater than the ‘can’t’ list, morale begins to drop and results in increased absenteeism and employee turnover. employees. Which will eventually start to affect patient care.
low morale
It is not kept in a bottle on a shelf that spills from time to time. When you’re in low spirits it’s like plaque and it takes over the hospital rolling like slime. It creeps under doors and infects the mood in every room.
Nurses are people too!
Nurses typically work in a fast-paced work situation. They watch people get hurt, they see them die, they are the ear that hears the face that is yelled at, the person who is blamed when there is no one else to push. Your body aches from helping lift people bigger than you. No matter what the patient load or staffing. You are expected to provide not just good care but great care to all of your patients, without mistakes.
Some days it’s all about attitude.
Nurses rarely work 9 to 5 jobs with weekends and holidays off. For 21 years I worked the 6:00 pm to 7:00 am shift and alternate holidays and missed so many family events that I lost count. It would be a lie to say that it didn’t bother me, just as it bothers the one who is working with me. However, the mindset we choose when we enter the workplace can make change good or bad. Most of the time I had a team that we decided to do the best shift possible, being with amazing nurses, well, most of them. We can choose how we will feel: it sets the mood for those around you and for those you care for.
Who cares about morality?
Should! It should, and those I work with should. The vast majority of workplaces that have happy and loyal employees have realized this. People don’t require an expensive gym membership to keep their employees fired up. Studies have shown that when workers feel valued, their productivity increases and absenteeism, turnover, and work-related conflict decrease.
WHY you need happy nurses
The body language of a happy nurse speaks to those around her before she says the first word. Her patient knows if he or she wants to take care of them in a few words of conversation.
Burnout doesn’t just affect nurses. When morale is low, your entire facility is vulnerable to the negative effects of increased absenteeism and employee turnover. When your staff is stressed, tense and overworked, normal challenges like fatigue and memory loss can lead to bigger problems that will eventually affect patient care. Give your nurses and support staff the tools they need to push through burnout and get back to doing what they do best: caring for your patients.