Unfortunately, burnout is commonplace in healthcare these days due to many factors, some beyond the control of healthcare organizations. The national nursing shortage, insufficient nursing pipeline, and aging patient populations are problems that may take decades to overcome.
With the potential for burnout as a given, it is essential for healthcare leaders to proactively determine strategies and allocate resources for prevention. Yet burnout will still most likely occur for a percentage of staff in any organization. Providing a process for recovery from burnout is equally necessary to ensure staff well-being — and will ultimately help sustain retention.
Rather than waiting for a crisis, take steps now to acknowledge and account for burnout within your overall plan for safeguarding the health and well-being of your staff. The Office of the U.S. Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being offered insights into specific needs, listing protection from harm and work-life harmony as key pillars.
Burnout may affect people differently, depending on their role, personal characteristics, and circumstances. In addition, three different realms — organizational, interpersonal, and personal — come into play, each with distinct causes and potential solutions. In our e-book on burnout prevention and recovery strategies, we examined ten different causes of burnout across these realms. Here are two of them.
Flawed processes or structures
Within the organizational realm, flawed processes or structures can contribute to burnout. Are administrative or technological tasks taking too much time away from patient care? These types of issues fall to leadership to detect and address through review or feedback. Any amount of friction that leaders can reduce for their staff could mean the difference between a difficult or smooth-running workplace — and by extension, overtaxed vs. productive employees.
Small actions, when multiplied over the course of a day, week, or month can add up. Areas to review for excessive mental or physical staff burdens are procedural tasks, physical workflows, and interdependencies between units. Modifying even one process that causes workplace challenges can make a major difference in staff well-being.
Lack of development opportunities
While it may seem counterintuitive when employees show signs of stress, research has shown that providing additional opportunities can help prevent burnout. The ability to participate in activities that bring variety, engagement, and the potential for rewards can help counteract employee stress.
Prospects for learning and advancement strengthen staff resilience because they help imbue a positive outlook that can counteract present-day challenges. Learning options such as professional development, continuing education, and specialty training provide engagement and mental breaks from the otherwise unrelenting difficulties and challenges of the job.
Why prioritize burnout prevention and recovery?
The need to address burnout prevention and recovery within healthcare organizations is imperative. The well-being of healthcare staff directly correlates to patient care quality and safety. By improving processes and providing opportunities along with other strategies we discuss in our e-book, organizations not only enhance the resilience and satisfaction of their employees but also ensure the sustainability of their operations.
Beyond these actionable steps, it is essential to recognize that fostering a culture of wellness and support must be a continuous commitment. This involves leadership that prioritizes mental health, resources that facilitate work-life balance, and a community that encourages open dialogue about stress and burnout.
Investing in these areas is not just a response to current challenges but a proactive strategy to build a more robust and compassionate healthcare system for the future. By valuing and protecting their most vital asset — their people — healthcare organizations can thrive and deliver exceptional care, even in the most demanding circumstances.
Read our ten burnout strategies and action steps
Download Relias’ e-book to learn more about avoiding staff loss and protecting patient outcomes through burnout prevention and recovery. Combat burnout by understanding when and why it happens, and what you, as a leader, can do about it.
Download Healthcare Burnout E-Book
About Relias
Relias provides lifelong workforce enablement solutions for 12,000 healthcare and human services organizations and 4.5 million caregivers to drive measurable outcomes. Customers use Relias solutions to attract and retain talent, elevate care quality and reduce risk with our technology, services, community, and expertise. The Relias family of brands — Nurse.com, Wound Care Education Institute, Relias Academy, FreeCME, and Relias Media — serves the entire healthcare community and shares a common goal of improving the lives of the most vulnerable members of society and those who care for them.