(Photo courtesy of https://q-reviews.com/insights/nurse-burnout-moral-injury-addressing-the-current-crisis/)
According to the CDC, healthcare worker stress levels, due to working conditions, can lead to poor physical health and poor mental health (CDC, 2024). This level of healthcare worker stress is a result of constantly caring for sick patients, exposure to human death and suffering, workplace relationship pressures, long shifts, physically demanding shifts, administrative influences, and work schedule issue (CDC, 2024). Healthcare workers know this going into the field; therefore, I believe that when choosing a position they not only consider healthcare benefits, but also other benefits that support work-life balance. According to the Kerry Jones’ article “The Most Desirable Employee Benefit,” next to healthcare benefits the most-valued benefits were those that offer improved work-life balance which includes flexibility, work-from-home options and generous vacation options (Jones, 2017). I work in healthcare and I agree that work stress levels are at times very overwhelming.
I took the three test required for this weeks blog assignment and honestly the results were not surprising because I know I am stressed. My Life Stress Questionnaire score was a 335 which came with the disclaimer “above a score of 350, you may be 75% sure of trouble in the months ahead.” Great, just want I need! My Coping and Stress management test results – “very stressed.” No surprise there!
My stress levels are likely combination of life events over the last 8 years, my current job, returning to school, and the normal life stressors of raising a family. Sometimes I think we are on “hard” mode and I wish it could just be “easy” mode.” I know it could be worse but still its a lot sometimes. My husband was diagnosed with leukemia 8 years ago this coming August. At the time, I was 4 months pregnant, we had a 5-year-old starting kindergarten in the fall, and I was just about to start new nursing job. Since then, life really hasn’t slowed down and stress levels haven’t improved much. He still struggles with post- transplant-issues, work isn’t getting easier, and the kids are just getting busier.
Some days are better than others, but I carry most of the burden juggling work schedules, school schedules, sports schedules, 4H schedules, house chores, appointments, etc. I keep my current job because it offers excellent benefits, not because I love it. When I come home at the end of the day I am often exhausted and over stimulated. I am actively looking to move to a different role in the organization, but it will take time. This job for now, is what I need to be – consistent income and good benefits. Both are needed to be able to support my family. My job is challenging at times. It can also be very rewarding, but its a lot and all I can say is burnout is real. I am burned out – just like many other healthcare workers.
The third test I took, the personality test, highlight that out that I am a Type A personality, surprise! This personality type does not really help my stress levels. I am driven, competitive, and time-urgent just as the results pointed out. Needless to say, because of these qualities, some of the stress I bring on myself. For example, I like to be one of the best at whatever it is and I tend to want to move into leadership roles in most settings. When I think of the characteristics driven and time-urgent, it makes sense why I have pushed so hard this last year taking 12 – 18 credit hours while working. And if that isn’t enough, I worry about my grades and if I feel like I am underperforming, I stress about it. Needless to say, my type A personality doesn’t exactly help lower my stress levels.
I think a lot of nurses are Type A personalities, it may be what makes us good as what we do; however, as Kaiser noted in their “Employee Burnout Guide” 83% of employees feel emotionally drained, 67% experienced burnout, and 25% have severe burnout (Kaiser Permanente) Their guide notes that the single most predicting factor in worker’s comp claims and cost is stress (Kaiser Permanente). Therefore recognizing that risk of burnout and stress is important for organizations so that they can work to mitigate it effects.
I believe now more than ever employers are recognizing this and some are trying to build a culture of well-being. According to Kaiser Permanent burnout and quiet quitting are also an organizational concern just not an individual concern and this can be combated by supporting and prioritizing mental health to help with work-place inflected stresses (Kaiser Permanente) Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), flexibly schedules, access to mediation apps, supportive leadership are ways organizations are addressing stress and burnout in the workplace.
References
Recognize and address the early signs of employee burnout. (n.d.-o). https://business.kaiserpermanente.org/content/dam/kp/ccp/documents/kaiser-permanente-employee-burnout-guide.pdf
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024d). Risk factors for stress and Burnout. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/healthcare/risk-factors/stress-burnout.html
Jones, Kerry. The Most Desirable Employee Benefits
. Harvard Business Review Digital Access. April 15, 2017, 2-6