What makes nurses vulnerable to burnout and how it impacts the care they provide

PBS NewsHour
28 Nov 202308:23
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRA federal study reveals that nearly half of all U.S. health workers, especially nurses, experience burnout, which can impact the quality of care they provide. The mental health of nurses is disproportionately affected, with higher risks of depression and suicide compared to the general population. Ohio State University is addressing this issue by implementing a culture of wellness, including evidence-based support programs and peer-to-peer counseling. The pressure of a profit-driven healthcare system and administrative burdens contribute to this crisis, leading to moral injury and distress among healthcare providers.

Takeaways
  • ๐Ÿ“ˆ A federal study reveals that nearly 50% of U.S. health workers, especially nurses, often feel burned out.
  • ๐Ÿฅ Burnout among nurses can negatively impact the quality of care they provide to patients.
  • ๐Ÿ‘ฉโ€โš•๏ธ Nurses are more vulnerable to stress and anxiety due to their caring roles and high-stress work environments.
  • ๐Ÿคฑ Pre-pandemic data shows that female nurses have a nearly double risk of suicide compared to the general population, and 70% higher than among female physicians.
  • ๐Ÿซ Ohio State University is working to create a culture of wellness among its hospital staff and students, starting with evidence-based approaches.
  • ๐Ÿ“Š Nurses who feel their organizations invest in their well-being experience less burnout, depression, and stress.
  • ๐Ÿ’ก Programs like 'Mind Strong' are being implemented to support nurses' mental health, with benefits backed by 20 studies.
  • ๐Ÿ“‰ A national survey indicates that two-thirds of nurses are not receiving any kind of mental health support.
  • ๐Ÿ•’ Nurses' irregular schedules and the profit-driven healthcare system contribute to their high levels of stress and burnout.
  • ๐Ÿ“š Researchers identify 'moral injury' as a factor leading to depression and PTSD among healthcare professionals, due to the conflict between their duties and the demands of the system.
Q & A

  • What percentage of U.S. health workers reported feeling burned out last year according to a federal study?

    -Nearly half of all U.S. health workers reported feeling burned out last year.

  • Which profession is particularly vulnerable to burnout and how does it affect their work?

    -Nurses are particularly vulnerable to burnout, which can negatively impact the quality of care they provide.

  • What is the significance of the collaboration between the Global Health Reporting Center and the Pulitzer Center in this context?

    -The collaboration supports the reporting of the series 'Critical Care: The Future of Nursing,' highlighting the issue of burnout among nurses and its implications for healthcare.

  • How does Sarah Kincaid's personal life and professional role as a nurse contribute to her emotional toll?

    -Sarah Kincaid's responsibilities at home and her caring role as a full-time nurse, combined with a lack of administrative support, lead to high levels of stress and anxiety.

  • What are the mental health implications for nurses, even before the pandemic?

    -Even before the pandemic, nurses suffered disproportionately from mental health conditions, with the risk of suicide among female nurses being nearly twice the risk of the general population and 70% higher than among female physicians.

  • How does burnout among hospital nurses compare to their physician counterparts?

    -Hospital nurses are much more likely to report burnout than their physician counterparts.

  • What role does the lack of administrative support play in nurse burnout?

    -The lack of administrative support contributes to the emotional toll and burnout experienced by nurses, as it adds to the stress and responsibilities they already face in their caring roles.

  • What is the significance of the้ฆ–ๅธญๅฅๅบทๅฎ˜ (Chief Wellness Officer) position at Ohio State University?

    -The Chief Wellness Officer at Ohio State University is the first of its kind in a U.S. emergency system and is responsible for promoting a culture of wellness across the university's hospitals and academic colleges.

  • How does the culture of wellness at Ohio State University impact nurse burnout and depression?

    -Nurses who believe their organization invests in their well-being report much less burnout, depression, and stress, indicating that a culture of wellness can lead to tangible benefits.

  • What is the Mind Strong program and how does it help nurses?

    -Mind Strong is a cognitive skills training program taught by psychiatric nurse practitioner Taylor, aimed at reducing stress, anxiety, and depression. Its benefits are backed by 20 studies.

  • What percentage of newly registered nurses quit the profession within the first year?

    -Nearly 18% of newly registered nurses quit the profession within the first year.

  • How does the profit-driven healthcare system contribute to nurse burnout?

    -The pressures of a profit-driven healthcare system, such as high drug costs and the emphasis on patient numbers over patient-centered care, can lead to moral injury, depression, and burnout among nurses.

Outlines
00:00
๐Ÿฅ Nurse Burnout: The Impact on Healthcare Quality

The first paragraph discusses the issue of burnout among U.S. health workers, particularly nurses, as reported by a federal study. It highlights the vulnerability of nurses due to their caring roles and the potential negative impact on patient care. The story of Sarah Kincaid, a full-time nurse and mother, is used to illustrate the emotional toll of balancing work and home life. The segment also touches on the higher rates of mental health conditions and suicide risks among female nurses compared to the general population and female physicians. The urgency of addressing nurse burnout is emphasized by a nurse and chief wellness officer at Ohio State University, who links burnout to preventable medical errors, thus affecting healthcare quality and patient safety. The importance of creating a culture of wellness in healthcare organizations is stressed, with evidence showing that such a culture significantly reduces burnout and improves mental health among nurses.

05:01
๐Ÿ•’ Addressing Burnout: Strategies and Support Programs

The second paragraph focuses on the challenges faced by nurses due to their demanding 24/7 schedules and the lack of support during night shifts. It introduces various initiatives by Ohio State to combat nurse burnout, including the Mind Strong cognitive skills program and peer-to-peer wellness counseling. The paragraph also addresses systemic issues in the profit-driven healthcare system that contribute to nurse burnout, such as insufficient time for patient care and high drug costs. The concept of 'moral injury' is introduced, explaining how it can lead to depression and PTSD among healthcare professionals. The paragraph concludes with a call to action for taking care of nurses so that they can effectively care for patients, emphasizing the need for more than just conversation but actual implementation of wellness strategies.

Mindmap
Keywords
๐Ÿ’กBurnout
Burnout refers to a state of physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress, often seen in professions with high demands and intense interactions, such as healthcare. In the context of the video, nearly half of all U.S. health workers, especially nurses, report feeling burned out, highlighting the severe impact this state can have on their ability to provide care and maintain personal well-being. The report discusses how this emotional toll, compounded by obligations at home and lack of administrative support, makes nurses particularly vulnerable.
๐Ÿ’กMental Health
Mental health in this context refers to the psychological and emotional well-being of nurses, who suffer disproportionately from conditions like stress, anxiety, and depression. The video emphasizes that even before the pandemic, the risk of suicide among female nurses was significantly higher than in the general population and other medical professionals, underlining the urgent need for mental health support within the nursing profession.
๐Ÿ’กWellness Culture
Wellness culture refers to an organizational environment that prioritizes the well-being of its members by fostering a supportive atmosphere and providing resources for mental, emotional, and physical health. The video showcases efforts to create a culture of wellness at Ohio State University's hospitals, with initiatives aimed at reducing burnout and depression among nurses by investing in their well-being, illustrating how such a culture can lead to tangible benefits for both staff and patient care.
๐Ÿ’กEvidence-Based Approach
An evidence-based approach involves making decisions and implementing practices based on the best available scientific evidence. In the video, this approach is applied to enhancing the wellness culture within healthcare settings, with specific strategies and programs designed to improve nurse well-being and patient care quality, underscoring the importance of data and research in addressing burnout and stress in the nursing profession.
๐Ÿ’กMoral Injury
Moral injury describes the distress that arises from actions, or the lack thereof, which violate one's moral or ethical code. Nurses, facing system constraints that impede their ability to provide adequate patient care, experience moral injury, leading to feelings of frustration, burnout, and in some cases, depression and PTSD. The video highlights how the pressures of a profit-driven healthcare system contribute to this phenomenon, affecting nurses' sense of duty and professional satisfaction.
๐Ÿ’กSelf-Care
Self-care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health, including mental, emotional, and physical well-being. The video emphasizes self-care as a necessity, not a nicety, for nursing students and professionals, illustrating the importance of incorporating self-care practices into nursing education and daily routines to mitigate burnout and ensure the longevity of careers in nursing.
๐Ÿ’กPeer-to-Peer Wellness Counseling
Peer-to-peer wellness counseling involves support programs where individuals offer guidance and support to their colleagues based on shared experiences and understanding. The video mentions such a program as part of Ohio State's efforts to support nurse wellness, highlighting the value of peer support in addressing common challenges, reducing feelings of isolation, and promoting coping strategies among nurses.
๐Ÿ’กCognitive Skills Training
Cognitive skills training, as depicted in the video through the Mind Strong program, focuses on developing mental skills to enhance personal resilience, reduce stress, and manage anxiety and depression. This training, backed by studies, is part of the broader initiative to equip nurses with tools to handle the psychological demands of their profession, demonstrating an effective method for improving mental health among healthcare workers.
๐Ÿ’กTherapy Dogs
Therapy dogs are used in various therapeutic settings to provide comfort and relief to individuals undergoing stress, illness, or trauma. In the context of the video, therapy dogs like Shiloh visit medical centers not for patients but for clinicians, including nurses, to offer emotional support and alleviate stress, showcasing an innovative and compassionate approach to enhancing wellness in healthcare environments.
๐Ÿ’กElectronic Health Record (EHR) Systems
EHR systems are digital versions of patients' paper charts and are widespread in healthcare settings. The video highlights how issues with the ease of use of EHR systems contribute to nurse burnout, with many nurses reporting that excessive time spent on data entry during and after shifts detracts from patient care and adds to their workload, illustrating a significant technological stressor in the nursing profession.
Highlights

Nearly half of all U.S. health workers reported feeling burned out, according to a federal study.

Nurses are particularly vulnerable to burnout, which can affect the care they provide.

The risk of suicide among female nurses was nearly twice the risk of the general population before the pandemic.

Hospital nurses are much more likely to report burnout than their physician counterparts.

The more depressed and burnt out nurses are, the more preventable medical errors are made, impacting healthcare quality and patient safety.

Nurses who believe their organization invests in their well-being experience less burnout, depression, and stress.

A culture of wellness results in tangible benefits, more than three times the investment at Ohio State University.

Nearly 18% of newly registered nurses quit the profession within the first year.

Mind Strong, a cognitive skills program, has benefits backed up by 20 studies and reduces stress, anxiety, and depression levels.

Two-thirds of nurses were not receiving any kind of mental health support, according to a national survey of 7000 nurses.

Ohio State offers a peer-to-peer wellness counseling program to support nurses.

Therapy dogs like Golden Retriever Shiloh visit the medical center to support clinicians, not patients.

Profit-driven healthcare systems contribute to nurses' stress and burnout.

Moral injury in nursing, due to industry profit incentives, can lead to depression and PTSD.

Ease of use issues with electronic health record systems have been linked to higher rates of burnout.

Nurses spend excessive time working on computer inputting tasks, which takes away from patient care.

The conversation regarding wellness needs to go beyond just talking; practical measures are needed to support nurses and healthcare providers.

Taking care of nurses is essential so they can take care of patients.

Transcripts

Browse More Related Video

San Diego nurse shortage continues to impact care delivery

Inside the fight to slash the maternal mortality rate in the South | 60 Minutes

Solutions to the nursing shortage

Medicine is Sick: Nurses describe why they've left the profession

Is the US facing a nursing shortage? It depends on whom you ask. | Morning in America

Nurse shortage could reach more than 1M by end of year

Rate This

5.0 / 5 (0 votes)

Thanks for rating:

Related Tags
NurseBurnoutHealthcareWellnessMentalHealthWorkplaceStressMedicalErrorsNursingSupportCognitiveBehaviorMoralInjuryElectronicHealthRecordsHealthcareIndustry