It’s all over the news headlines: healthcare workers regularly face and deal with burnout, and nurse practitioners are no exception. In this blog, learn about five signs of burnout and five helpful methods to avoid it.
Nurse practitioners (NP) are one of the fastest-growing groups of healthcare providers in primary care. However, the scope of their practice extends beyond that with many patients depending on them as clinicians in a wide range of specialties.
A recent study highlighted the impact of nurse practitioners, citing how their involvement in primary care has improved patient outcomes, increased access to care, and decreased inessential hospital admissions. These positive outcomes come in the face of the enormous pressure NPs face due to the unfortunate healthcare shortage.
As valuable members of the healthcare system, nurse practitioners need to be aware of the signs of burnout and equip themselves with the tools to recover when pressure mounts. Excellent patient care is always the goal, but it is only possible when NPs carve out time to care for themselves too.
How do you identify burnout?
Burnout and stress are not synonymous, and it’s vital to understand the distinction between them to find the best ways to manage each. Stress is all too common when working in the bustling healthcare system, and long-term stress can eventually lead to burnout. Nurse practitioners balance a multitude of responsibilities to deliver effective patient-centered care. Most people see stress as a temporary consequence of a current situation. A critical component that separates it from burnout is the sense of hopelessness and intense exhaustion pervasive in burnout.
Here are important signs of burnout that can help you recognize it in yourself or a colleague:
- Mental, emotional, and/or physical exhaustion
- Bad mood or moodiness
- Lack of inspiration and motivation
- Negative outlook on work and/or personal life
- Frequently getting sick
- Feeling disconnected from those around you
- Difficulty concentrating
- Underperformance at work
- Social withdrawal
- Lack of sleep
Though the list of signs may feel alarming, the good news is that there are ways to prevent or recover from burnout if you begin to deal with it. The first step is to recognize the signs so you can chart your next course of action.
How to prevent or recover from burnout
Prevention and recovery from burnout use many of the same strategies. Self-care is a notable theme but not the only one. Reflecting on current employment demands, evaluating your work environment, and considering a pivot to a new industry are also part of remedying burnout.
Here are five self-care tips to help avoid burnout:
- Make your health and well-being a priority through a good diet, regular exercise, and proper sleep hygiene.
- Look for different ways to de-stress (socialize with friends, try therapy, mindfulness)
- Positivity is contagious; surround yourself with positive people to boost your mood.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends, work colleagues, supervisors, or medication such as antidepressants.
- Regularly do something kind for yourself (take a weekend trip, get a relaxing massage, try a new hobby)
Here are five ways to improve your work environment to prevent burnout:
- Take control of your schedule and ensure that a work-life balance is possible.
- Build strong relationships with your colleagues, improve communication, exemplify kindness, and have each other’s backs to curate a better work environment
- When charting, keep it concise and focus on pertinent information. Don’t get lost in the details.
- Reflect on possible ways to make your days smoother and ways to work better with other colleagues
- Consider other career options, perhaps a leap into entrepreneurship, travel care, or medical writing. Pivoting into a new career may be the furthest thing from your mind, but there are many options, even within the field of medicine.
Fortunately, avoiding burnout as a nurse practitioner is possible, and applying these tips is a great way to do it. If you’re experiencing burnout, we encourage you to use these tips to start feeling like yourself again.
And last but not least, as a healthcare professional, the advice you give to your patients, such as maintaining a good diet, exercising, and prioritizing rest, are also crucial things to prioritize in your life. Compassionate care is a major part of your work as a nurse practitioner, don’t forget to extend some to yourself as well.
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