What Is Burnout and How is it Affecting Healthcare Workers?
The ICD-11 defines burnout as: “a syndrome (that results from) chronic workplace stress…that has not been successfully managed.” The three most common impacts of burnout are: lack of motivation and exhaustion, negative thoughts and feelings about one’s job, and being less effective in job role.
Due to the overwhelming impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, research proves that burnout is running rampant among doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers. Mental Health America (MHA) completed a survey with healthcare workers to assess their mental health while working through the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this survey are worrisome. Out of the 1,119 individuals surveyed, 93% said that they were suffering with general feelings of stress. 76% said that they were experiencing exhaustion and burnout.
These statistics show the truth: we need to acknowledge the long reaching impact of this pandemic on our healthcare workers and work on finding ways to combat these issues so that they are able to continue caring for their patients to the best of their ability.
Maybe you are healthcare worker wondering if what you are experiencing is burnout. If so, continue reading to learn the signs of and factors that are contributing to burnout, and how to cope.
Signs of Burnout in Healthcare Workers
If you are a healthcare worker and wondering if what you are experiencing is burnout, ask yourself these questions.
- Constantly feeling tired, even when getting enough sleep
- Are you feeling exhausted most of the day?
- Does your body feel heavy?
- Do you notice that you are consuming more caffeine or sugar to keep yourself going?
- Feeling overworked and/or underappreciated
- Are you having to work longer hours and/or more shifts?
- Are you starting to feel resentful because it seems like no one is noticing how hard you are working?
- Dreading going to work
- Do you feel a sense of dread or experience symptoms of anxiety the day before or the day of going to work?
- Compassion fatigue
- Have you noticed that you are struggling to feel empathy or compassion toward your patients (and others)?
Factors That Are Contributing to Burnout in Doctors and Nurses
- The general state of the world is concerning.
- Living during a pandemic is stressful for most of us, but our healthcare workers are undoubtedly shouldering most of the burden as they care for our sick and dying loved ones.
- Fear of contracting COVID-19 and/or exposing family and friends.
- There are too many stories about doctors and nurses feeling as though they need to isolate themselves away from their immediate family members for fear of exposing them to the virus. Isolation from loved ones only compounds any symptoms of anxiety and depression that are arising from the experiences of treating COVID-19 patients.
- Hospitals are short-staffed, which means longer hours.
- Longer hours and more shifts mean less sleep. Less time with family. Less time to engage in self-care activities.
What to do if you are experiencing burnout
- Set boundaries when possible.
- Ask yourself whether there is room to ask for time off from work.
- Ask your family to let you have some solo “unwind time” when you get home from your shift.
- Attend to your basic needs.
Are getting enough (quality) sleep? It helps to have a set bedtime that allows for an adequate number of hours of sleep. At least 30 minutes before bed, put all screens away and engage in relaxing activity. Take a hot shower, read a (non-stressful) book, or listen to a guided meditation.
- How are your eating habits? A busy schedule might not always allow for cooking fancy meals, but just try to consume whole foods when possible.
- Also consider your water intake, how much you are moving each day, and whether you are using any unhealthy coping skills.
- Practice self-care.
- You are spending so much of your time caring for others, but it is important that no matter how busy your schedule becomes, you are still finding time to engage in activities that you enjoy in hopes of ‘recharging’ between work shifts. Self-care looks like calling a friend, doing a craft, or taking a yoga class.
- Find ways to feel hopeful about the future.
- There will be a time in the future when you will feel better. Allow yourself to get excited about that time and plan what you will do. What friend will you go get lunch with first? Do you want to take a trip?
- Ask for emotional support.
- Allow others to care for you. Engaging in talk therapy is an effective way to release some of those anxious thoughts you have had pent up. You don’t need to cope with your experience of burnout by yourself. A therapist will provide a non judgmental space for you to vent, and then figure out how to move forward.
By: Jessica Taylor, LPC