The high overtime rate in the healthcare industry will result in increased stress levels, disruptive behavior, mood disorders, and depression, which eventually leads to nurse burnout, a widespread phenomenon that includes emotional exhaustion, lack of motivation, and feelings of frustration. Inevitably work efficiency reduces.
Keeping a good work-life balance is always the best solution to avoid nurse burnout. It will reduce most nurses’ stress levels and help prevent physical and emotional breakdowns. Here are some other strategies that nurses can implement to prevent burnout.
- Seek professional consultation when you perceive you’re on the edge of burning out
- Set work hours and create boundaries
- Unplug during off-hours to leave time for your family and hobbies
- Eat healthily and get enough sleep
- Exercise regularly
- Assess origins of stress
Becoming a travel nurse is also a good way to alleviate nurse burnout. Most travel nursing assignments are flexible, so travel nurses could determine the type of shifts and location to work at. Here are strategies workplaces could implement to prevent nurse burnout:
- Build a community culture to encourage work-life balance
- Allow flexibility and short breaks
- Set up mental health consultation sessions
At Goodwill Staffing and Recruitment, we know the importance of work-life balance and are currently hiring for numerous travel nurse opportunities across Canada. If you are feeling a bit exhausted at your current full-time job, check our Travel Nursing program to see some job openings! Goodwill Staffing and Recruitment commits to matching your expertise to assignments.
