5 Steps to Prevent Nurse Burnout
Willow Grove CPR • January 5, 2023

5 Steps to Prevent Nurse Burnout


Nurse burnout is a serious issue that can affect any nurse. While there are many causes of burnout, and no one solution, there are steps you can take to prevent and recover from it. In this post written by the staff at Willow Grove CPR, an American Heart Association Training Site, we will highlight 5 Steps to Prevent Nurse Burnout:

1. Recognize the signs and symptoms.

2. Schedule some time to develop a strategy for dealing with burnout.

3. Understand what is within your control, and what is not.

4. Seek the help of a mental health professional to treat your burnout symptoms.

5. Join a Nurse Community Group where members can discuss the challenges they face in their jobs.


5 Steps to Prevent Nurse Burnout by Willow Grove CPR

Nurse burnout is a serious, worldwide problem affecting an estimated one in five nurses. Here are five steps you can take to combat nurse burnout.

Nurse burnout is a serious, worldwide problem affecting an estimated one in five nurses. Here are five steps you can take to combat nurse burnout.

In order to combat burnout we need to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms. If you're experiencing feelings of hopelessness, frustration or depression, these could be signs that you're suffering from nurse burnout.

In order to combat burnout we need to be able to recognize the signs and symptoms.

Recognizing the signs and symptoms of burnout can be difficult, especially if you're already in a state of burnout. It's important to recognize that not all nurses experience the same things, so what one person may consider a symptom could be another person's normal workflow. However, here are some common symptoms:

  • Exhaustion
  • Depression (feeling sad or hopeless)
  • Anxiety (feeling worried, nervous)
  • Stress (feeling overwhelmed)

Schedule some time to develop a strategy for dealing with burnout.

The next step is to schedule some time to develop a strategy for dealing with burnout. You can use the following questions as a guide:

  • What do I need to do on my own?
  • How will I manage stress, fatigue and anxiety?

Once you have answered these questions, make a list of things that you can do on your own—things like taking breaks or getting enough sleep. Now look over each item on your list and see if there is anything that could be improved in your workplace so that you don’t have to rely solely on yourself when dealing with these issues. For example, if one of the items on your list is leaving work earlier than usual because commuting after dark has become too much for you at this time of year (or any time of year), ask for flex-time so that this won’t happen again next year.

Understand what is within your control, and what is not.

It’s important to understand what is within your control and what isn’t. You can choose how you respond to challenges, but you cannot control other people’s actions or the outcome of events.

It may feel good to blame others for something that goes wrong, but it won't make you any happier.

Seek the help of a mental health professional to treat your burnout symptoms.

There's no shame in seeking professional help to treat your burnout symptoms. If you can't afford to see a therapist, there are other options that may be available to you through your employer's health plan or local community centers.

  • Talk to someone about how you're feeling. Whether it's a friend or family member, someone who works in the same field as yourself, or even a complete stranger on the bus, talking about your thoughts and feelings can help relieve some of the pressure of burnout.
  • Get a massage! Massage therapy has been shown time and again to improve moods by reducing stress levels and increasing serotonin production (serotonin is one of the neurotransmitters responsible for happiness). Just make sure that whoever massages you doesn't also have an infection—it'll only exacerbate any existing symptoms!
  • Take some time off work if possible: Even just a day out of town will give your mind space away from what seems like an endless cycle of work-home-work.* Exercise regularly: This will not only get rid of excess energy but also keep body fat under control so that weight gain isn't contributing negatively towards mental health issues such as depression or anxiety.* Meditate daily: Meditation helps release endorphins into our bodies which result in improved concentration levels over time - perfect for those who spend hours staring at computer screens studying data all day long.* Start doing something fun instead: Playing video games with friends increases dopamine levels which boosts confidence while reducing stress levels since there’s less pressure placed on performance expectations; watching movies/TV shows gives us something entertaining without having any real impact on brain activity

Join a Nurse Community Group where members can discuss the challenges they face in their jobs.

Nurse community groups are a great resource for nurses. The members of these groups can discuss the challenges they face in their jobs and offer support to one another. You may find that other nurses have shared experiences with you, or that they are able to help you come up with solutions when no one else can.

Joining a nurse community group is an excellent way to meet people who understand what it's like to be a nurse in today's healthcare environment. This can make it easier for everyone involved to share their concerns and get feedback on how best to handle them.

Nurse burnout is serious but preventable

Nurse burnout is a serious problem that can have long-lasting emotional, physical and mental health effects. However, there are steps you can take to prevent it from happening to you.

The first step in preventing nurse burnout is recognizing the signs and symptoms of nurse burnout so they don't catch you off guard. If you're feeling overwhelmed by your work responsibilities, experiencing feelings of helplessness or hopelessness about your situation at work—or even just having trouble getting through each day at work without feeling depleted—you might be experiencing some early warning signs of nurse burnout.

Once you've recognized that something isn't right for yourself, develop an action plan for dealing with your symptoms: start by asking yourself questions like "What's causing me stress?" and "How can I manage my stress better?" Be honest with yourself while thinking through these questions; they'll help point out areas where changes in behavior could make a difference in how you feel on a daily basis​

Conclusion

Nurse burnout is a serious problem that affects an estimated one in five nurses. However, by recognizing the signs and symptoms of burnout, you can take steps to prevent it from happening to yourself. This includes creating a plan to combat burnout when it does occur as well as seeking help from others who have experienced similar symptoms in their careers.


During your free time, you can sign up for a BLS Renewal Course. You can drive to our office and refresh your skills in CPR. Did you know that you can burn an average of 165 calories when doing 15 minutes of CPR?

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