Life Outside the Hospital
I am getting married in 19 days. Out of those 19 days, I have ten twelve-hour overnight shifts scheduled. I love being at work. I still have so much to do.
Throughout my nursing career, I have heard the nursing profession referred to as “the burnout profession.” I have heard this from professors, bedside nurses, nurse leadership, and even my own family. Nurse burnout is one of the leading causes of nurse distress and the recent mass exodus of nurses from the profession.
“ [Nurse burnout] is defined as emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. It impacts nurses' personal lives, the patients they take care of, and the organizations they work for.In fact, the World Health Organization has recently labeled burnout as an official medical diagnosis (Well-Being Index, 2018).”
Right now, you are probably thinking, “yes, kendra, I have heard of nursing burnout, but how prevalent is it actually” according to the Well-Being Index (2018), 38% of nurses currently in the position experience burnout. Let us dive deeper into this statistic. Say you have ten nurses on your unit during your shift; at least four of those nurses dread coming to work, lack empathy during patient care, feel dissatisfied with their job, and nearly all four will experience a sense of failure and self-doubt. So why am I writing about burnout? Because the risk and occurrence of nurse burnout can be significantly reduced by achieving a healthy work-life balance.
What is a Work-Life Balance? Why is it important in nursing?
Work-life balance refers to the balance between the time and energy a person devotes to their work and the time and energy they devote to their personal life outside of work. It is about balancing work demands and responsibilities and the need for private time, rest, and rejuvenation. Work-life balance can mean different things to people depending on their priorities, responsibilities, and circumstances.
Nursing is a gratifying career, and I often want to dedicate a lot of time to bettering myself through education, conference, and spending more time on the unit. One of the quotes I try to shape my career around is by Florence Nightengale; she said, “Nursing is an art: and if it is to be made an art, It requires an exclusive devotion.” However, it is important to ask the following question: are nurses unable to dedicate time to themselves due to this devotion? To the people we love? To our hobbies? Due to the extreme emotional demand of our chosen profession, clocking out doesn’t necessarily mean it is the end of your shift. Constantly directing our emotions outward and thinking of others is draining and can impact our personal life. In addition, additional work stressors such as shift work and staffing patterns can increase stress in nurses. Often the demands of the job and patients’ needs take precedence over the needs of the nurses (Concorde College, 2023).
There are many benefits for nurses not only to achieve but also maintain a healthy work-life balance, such as:
This list is referenced and paraphrased from Concorde College (2012)
Better Stress Management. Taking time away from work to recharge helps you return to work feeling refreshed and productive. This can result in feeling more energetic and motivated, leading to better performance and providing the best possible care for patients.
Reduced Burnout. Achieving a healthy work-life balance is an essential part of minimizing burnout potential because it provides the quality rest needed between work shifts.
Improved Health Outcomes. Investing in your mental health by journaling, meditating, talking to others, and processing emotions is another way to take care of yourself.
Tips for Improving Work-Life Balance
One of the biggest things I can stress is self-awareness. Know who you are. You know your body, mind, and limitations the best. Spend some time with yourself through periodic check-ins. Simmions (2012), a nurse practitioner, states that you should host “scrum meetings” with yourself, ensuring you still know your goals, desires, likes, wants, and needs. Simmions (2012) states, “When you don't know who you are and what you want, it's difficult to achieve balance, let alone happiness and inner peace.”
Focus on your priorities. When considering your personal needs, determine your priorities. Understanding your priorities in life is important for helping you achieve a work-life balance that's right for you. For example, you may prioritize family time, mental health, professional development, or self-expression.
Ask for help. There is no need to struggle alone if you feel overwhelmed or stretched too thin. Contact family members, friends, and even your work manager or supervisor. Having a team in your corner when life becomes too much is always a tool for success.
Protect and invest in your relationships. Positive and supportive relationships can reduce your stress. Connecting with others, working together to solve challenges, and supporting each other through difficulties are all important factors in maintaining positive relationships that lead to better health and stress-management outcomes.
Set personal goals. Make a habit of setting self-care goals, and encouraging yourself to work toward self-improvement. These goals may include health and fitness, relationship, or even educational goals. Investing in yourself by making your personal growth as important as your professional growth may help you achieve what's important to you.
Work and home life are both necessary, but they should be fulfilling and satisfying. To achieve balance, peace, fulfillment, and happiness in your life, know yourself, take action, and maintain as much control over work and home as possible.
References
Concorde College. (2023). The importance of work-life balance when working in nursing. Concorde College Blog. https://www.concorde.edu/blog/importance-work-life-balance-when-working-nursing
Simmons, Susan Ph.D., ARNP-BC. Striving for work-life balance. Nursing 42(1):p 25,26, January 2012. | DOI: 10.1097/01.NURSE.0000408207.06032.96
Well-Being Index. (2018). Nurse burnout. What You Need to Know | Prevent. https://www.mywellbeingindex.org/nurse-burnout