How Nursing Shortage Impacts The Mental Health Of Nurses
The mental health impacts of the nursing shortage make nursing one of the most stressful professions today. Nurses suffer from high levels of anxiety and depression due to their stressful work environment, in which they have little control over their workload or schedules. They may also become exhausted after long shifts with short rest breaks.
Nurses' mental health is suffering as a result of the nursing shortage. High stress levels, burnout, and stress-related illnesses are all rising. This article will discuss the mental health impacts of the nursing shortage, including depression, anxiety, burnout, and stress.
What’s In The Article?
The Nursing Shortage
Nursing Shortage Impacts On the Mental Health Of Nurses
Coping Mechanisms In Nursing Professionals
Final Thoughts
The Nursing Shortage
Nursing is one of the most stressful and demanding professions. Nurses must care for sick, elderly, and dying patients. They must always be compassionate, patient, and understanding. In addition, nurses have significant responsibilities since they are frequently responsible for managing their own work environment with little assistance from others.
The
As a nurse, you are almost certainly under constant stress. Nurses are often expected to do more with fewer resources, which can lead to exhaustion. Physical health consequences of stress include heart disease and diabetes. Indeed, stress has been identified as one of the primary reasons why people choose not to pursue a career in nursing in the first place.
Nursing Shortage Impacts On the Mental Health Of Nurses
Stress, burnout, and stress-related illnesses are all on the rise. Nurses are vulnerable to high stress levels due to various factors, including working conditions such as long shifts with no breaks or time off, a lack of management support, a lack of resources such as equipment and staff, and sleep deprivation due to shift work. Mental health impacts of the nursing shortage include the following:
Nurses are more likely than other professions to suffer from depression and anxiety. The
workforce issues that contribute to the nursing shortagecan lead to burnout, making it difficult to care for patients.
Aside from being overworked, many nurses do not get enough sleep since they work long shifts with no days off. Stress seriously impacts the brain, increasing our chances of developing anxiety disorders and even post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Since stress is a major contributor to mental health problems, it stands to reason that nurses are more likely to suffer from these conditions since they work in stressful environments every day. It can also result in exhaustion or disengagement from one's job responsibilities. Physical symptoms of this condition include headaches, back pain, and stomach pain.
Stress And Burnout
The nursing shortage is increasing stress and burnout, which has an impact on nurses' mental health. Nurses are being asked to do more with fewer resources, to work overtime, and to work more shifts and weekends. This situation creates a stressful work environment in which nurses struggle to care for themselves.
Chronic stress causes burnout, which can lead to depression. Due to the demands of their job, nurses are at risk of burnout. They may be prone to burnout if they have a heavy workload or little control over their work. To avoid this, nurses must take care of themselves by eating well, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep each day.
Stress has a negative impact on the brain. It stimulates the release of cortisol, a hormone that raises your heart rate and blood pressure. When you are under a lot of stress for a long time, your body will have high cortisol levels circulating throughout it. This can result in serious health problems such as weight gain or loss, headaches, muscle tension, or even memory issues.
Overwork
Nurses are underpaid and overworked. They have little time for their personal lives since they're so preoccupied with other people's health. In comparison to other professions, nurses are underpaid. According to the BLS, the median pay for nurse practitioners in 2021 was $123,780, while
Depression And Anxiety
Nurses, who are frequently exposed to stressful situations, are prone to depression and anxiety. They may experience anxiety due to the stress of caring for patients, meeting deadlines, and working long hours. A nurse working in a stressful environment may suffer from depression, which could be another factor contributing to the nursing shortage. Depression makes people believe they are bad at their jobs, even though they know this is not the case. It constantly makes you feel down on yourself and sad.
Coping Mechanisms In Nursing Professionals
Coping mechanisms are methods of dealing with stress. They can maintain a healthy lifestyle by talking to a friend or family member, exercising, and eating well. However, some people have unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as drinking alcohol or overeating.
Because their jobs are so stressful, nurses may believe they have no choice but to use these unhealthy coping mechanisms. They are exposed to many difficult situations in which they see patients suffering from various illnesses in hospitals on a daily basis, which can cause emotional distress if not handled properly.
Nurses need support in dealing with these factors. They must take care of themselves and be willing to talk about their difficulties, seek help from others, and find ways to reduce stress.
Final Thoughts
We cannot afford to lose our nurses. They are the foundation of our healthcare system and are entitled to better pay, working conditions, and mental health care. We must address the mental health impacts of the nursing shortage to ensure that patients receive the care they deserve. Nurses should be treated with dignity. Nursing shortages can harm nurses' mental health, but there are ways to prevent this by providing support and creating a safe environment for nurses.