Healthcare professionals are exposed to physical and emotional strains on a daily basis, which, if not managed properly, can lead to stress and burnout. The global pandemic has exacerbated the level of stress and burnout frontline nurses feel, with one 2023 study finding that 63.8% of nurse participants experienced extreme levels of stress. When nurses are struggling mentally, their overall health is compromised, and their ability to perform their jobs safely and efficiently is greatly reduced. One UK-based study also found that poor mental health is a major reason why nurses are leaving the profession in droves.
Nurses who constantly deal with long working hours and heavy workloads must get the mental health support that they need. However, it’s not always easy to notice the warning signs of stress and burnout in oneself. Oftentimes, people will only recognize chronic stress and burnout in themselves when they start getting sick. This is why healthcare professionals must be on the lookout for colleagues who are exhibiting signs of mental health struggles and help them get the support they need to manage their stress better and improve their well-being.
This article discusses how nurses can recognize mental health challenges in their colleagues and provides nurse-to-nurse mental health conversation tips to learn what to say and what not to say to someone who’s struggling mentally.
How to Recognize When a Nursing Colleague Is Struggling
Nurses are prone to experiencing burnout, which happens when a person experiences work-related mental and physical exhaustion that can lead to physiological changes. To help our fellow nurses who may be experiencing mental health challenges, it’s crucial to know some of the tell-tale signs of stress and burnout. The following are signs that a nurse colleague is struggling with burnout:
- Feeling extreme fatigue and exhaustion; feeling tired all the time despite getting enough hours of sleep
- Experiencing compassion fatigue
- Having more frequent tension headaches and migraines
- Experiencing muscle tension, chronic pain, breathing difficulties, and gastrointestinal challenges
- Getting sick more frequently
- Experiencing sleep impairment (either sleeping too much or not sleeping enough)
- Procrastinating at work
- Having mood swings, annoyance, and irritability
- Feeling cynical, withdrawn, and detached from work
- Not looking forward to working
- No longer enjoying activities and hobbies they once enjoyed
- Increased unplanned absenteeism
- Increased turnover intention
How to Start the Conversation: What to Say, What to Avoid, and What to Do
If you suspect that your nurse friend is having a difficult time at work, here are some helpful things to say to a burned-out nurse co-worker, as well as some tips on how to be compassionate when speaking with someone mentally struggling:
- Be patient and kind. They won’t always be in the mood to talk about their struggles, or even if you express concern for them, they might tell you not to worry about them. But it’s important to make them feel that you’re a safe space; that they can talk to you when they finally want to.
- Ask open-ended questions. Instead of dwelling on too many of the burnout symptoms you’ve observed in them, ask about how they’re feeling, such as “How have you been feeling recently?” or “Would it help if we talked about what’s weighing on you most these days?”
- Listen with empathy. When talking to someone who is struggling mentally, listen to them intently, establish eye contact, and give them your undivided attention. Do your best to listen not just to hear, but to fully understand and empathize. Don’t interrupt them when they’re speaking — let them speak freely.
- Don’t downplay their emotions. Don’t make them feel like they’re overreacting or that their feelings aren’t valid. Avoid using dismissive and insensitive phrases such as “Other people have it worse,” “It’s all in your head,” “Don’t you think you’re overreacting a bit?” or “Just calm down.”
- Don’t judge. Different people have different backgrounds, experiences, and tolerances, and it’s important not to judge those who are having mental health difficulties when they’re sharing their struggles.
By looking out for your colleagues and prioritizing compassion and care, you can help create a healthier and safer work environment.
