Being a nurse requires a significant amount of physical and emotional stamina, particularly when work involves direct patient care. According to a 2023 Mental Health and Wellness Survey from American Nurses Foundation, 68% of responding nurses reported a significant level of workplace stress. Stress was actually the most prevalent factor impacting mental health and well-being for surveyed nurses — more than doubling any reported factor perceived as positive.
In addition, nursing students may experience substantial academic stress — stress that can increase over the course of their education. This level of academic stress can compound the stress working nurses already experience, adding to their time commitments and scheduling challenges.
Flexible degree options like the online Registered Nurse (RN) to Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) program from The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) can help nurses mitigate the stress and scheduling challenges of going to school while working full time. Yet, with such high levels of reported stress and the increased workload of career-advancing education, understanding stress and effective coping strategies in nursing is critical to sustaining a long, healthy career in the field.
Long-lasting Effects
Dealing with ongoing elevated levels of stress can affect a nurse’s individual performance, health and career longevity. When exposed to a stressful work environment for an extended period, nurses may be less enthusiastic to go to work and begin to show signs of burnout. Burnout in nursing may correlate with decreased job satisfaction, a declining interest in patient care and compassion fatigue. These conditions can lead to nurses leaving the profession entirely, exacerbating the ongoing nursing shortage.
Consistent high stress levels can have damaging effects on an individual’s health. Healthcare professionals working in busy areas may find it difficult to tend to their most basic needs throughout the day, such as taking regular breaks for nutrition, hydration, bathroom needs and recharging. When paired with a 10-to-12-hour shift, demands on the body can prove particularly grueling. Plus, long night shift schedules can add to these problems, increasing sleep deprivation, metabolic abnormalities and risk factors associated with chronic disease.
Coping Methods
When dealing with chronic stress, it is imperative to be aware of unhealthy coping habits that develop. According to PositivePsychology.com, examples of unhealthy coping mechanisms can include the following:
- Emotional/binge eating
- Social isolation
- Self-harm
- Substance abuse
- Avoidance
Instead of relying on unhealthy coping methods, nurses should focus on practicing self-care. The topic of self-care for healthcare professionals received increased attention in recent years, due to factors like retention problems, high burnout rates and myriad other challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Addressing issues from an administrative standpoint — providing nurses with techniques to decrease stress levels and offering programs focused on fostering well-being and resilience, for example — can help alleviate the nursing shortage in the long term. Ensuring regular breaks and mealtimes are just one piece of the puzzle.
Other self-care options include relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises, yoga or guided mediation. These may also lead to more restful sleep for a longer duration, which plays a vital role in overall well-being. Some nurses may benefit from creative pursuits like painting or writing, while others may enjoy the release that physical activity provides. Practicing mindfulness when faced with stress can help nurses prioritize self-care.
High Standards
Nurses frequently feel as if their work is never done. There is always something nurses need to do for a patient, a peer or the unit. A sense of never being caught up coupled with inadequate staffing can cause emotional unrest.
Charge nurses should prepare for the day ahead to whatever extent possible, planning for staff breaks and coverage. Having time for a mental refresh and for meeting personal physical needs can help staff stay focused and content. Increasing nursing education levels can result in improved confidence, leadership, nursing practice and patient outcomes. This, in turn, bolsters job satisfaction and leads to lower rates of turnover. Nurses at their personal best provide more attentive, compassionate care and may better cope with inevitable stressors they face.
Learn more about the UTA online RN to BSN program.
