Prioritizing nurses’ mental health

Nurses dedicate their lives to caring for others, but unfortunately lots of them don’t feel supported at work. The American Nurses Association conducted a 2023 survey that found that 2/3 of nurses who said they were affected by mental anguish or toxic emotions didn’t seek or receive mental health support, which is a daunting statistic. (American Nurses Association, 2023). .

This is essential because if a nurse doesn’t feel supported or it’s affecting their mental health, how can they properly take care of others?

The impact that mental health can have on nurses is important. Not only does this impact their personal relationships and overall well-being, but it could actually also result in poorer performance within the workplace. Below are a few of the impacts mental health can have on nurses (Flaubert, JL, Le Menestrel S, Williams DR et al., 2021).

• Burnout
• High nurse turnover
• Lower productivity
• Increase medication errors
• Lower job satisfaction
• Depression

Now that we have seen the impact of this disease on nurses’ personal and skilled lives, how can we improve their mental health?

Nurses have to practice self-care. While it sounds easy, it could actually be difficult. Below are some suggestions for a way nurses can protect their mental health.

Physical activity improves cardiovascular health and might impact mood, alertness and overall well-being. It doesn’t need to be strenuous, but each day exercise can improve your physical and mental health (Better Health, 2021).

Spending time outdoors has been proven to enhance mood and concentration, in addition to lower it stress horizontal. There are some ways to do that without disrupting your day, corresponding to taking a walk within the park and even eating lunch outdoors (Wier, 2020).

Sleep has a big impact on mental health, causing essential for practicing good sleep habits. These include: maintaining a consistent bedtime, limiting caffeine, tobacco and alcohol within the evening, practicing rest before bed and never using electronic devices no less than one hour before bed (Suni, E. and Dimitriu, A. 2024).

Finding a creative outlet has been shown to cut back stress and anxiety levels. Examples include playing an instrument, knitting or sewing, dancing with friends, and doing a puzzle (American Psychiatric Association, 2023).

Connecting with others in skilled and private settings has been linked to higher levels of happiness and overall higher health. These connections include working friendships, meeting a friend for coffee, or joining a book club (Mental Health America, 2024).

Many workplaces provide mental health resources for workers. This may include a certain variety of sessions with a therapist, details about rest methods and stress management advice.

Professional help may include working with a therapist or managing medications.

Nurses need to begin prioritizing our mental health. This is essential not only on a private level, but additionally to be sure that care is protected and of the very best quality possible. Most became nurses with passion and willingness to care for others, which starts with taking good care of yourself.

Reference

1. American Nurses Association. (2023). The American Nurses Foundation says motion continues to be needed to deal with serious nurse staffing challenges. https://www.nursingworld.org/news/news-releases/2023/the-american-nurses-foundation-says-action-is-still-needed-to-address-serious-nursing-workforce-challenges/
2. American Psychiatric Association. (2023). New APA Poll: Americans who engage in creative activities no less than once every week report higher mental health. https://www.psychiatry.org/news-room/news-releases/new-apa-poll-americans-who-engage-in-creative-acti
3. Better health. (2024). Exercise and mental health. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/exercise-and-mental-health
4. Flaubert JL, Le Menestrel S, Williams DR et al. (2021). The the long run of nursing 2020–2030: charting a path to achieving health equity. Press of the National Academies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK573902/
5. Mental Health America. (2024). Connect with others. https://www.mhanational.org/connect-others
6. Suni, E., and Dimitriu, A. (2024). Mental health and sleep. https://www.sleepfoundation.org/mental-health
7. Weir, K. (2020). Raised by nature. Psychology Monitor, 51 (3), 50. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2020/04/nurtured-nature