{"id":5055,"date":"2022-04-29T21:32:22","date_gmt":"2022-04-29T21:32:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/?p=5055"},"modified":"2024-11-07T20:03:22","modified_gmt":"2024-11-07T20:03:22","slug":"support-your-fellow-nurses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vivian.com\/community\/wellness\/support-your-fellow-nurses\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Support Your Fellow Nurses: 6 Tips to Try Today"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the rate of nurse burnout has grown drastically. Vivian’s recent workforce survey<\/a> found 76.4% of healthcare professionals said that morale in their hospital had gotten worse since this time last year. <\/span>Many organizations don’t have the capacity to provide support for these employees \u2013 especially during the pandemic. And unfortunately, a whopping 79.4% said that their employers were not doing enough to support their mental health.
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So what can we do for ourselves and our colleagues to help?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

6 Tips to Support Your Nurse Colleagues\u00a0<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Support groups for nurses and healthcare workers may not be available to everyone. But there are ways you can support the nurses around you.<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Start a Peer Support Group\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Your hospital or organization might not have a peer support group, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start one. There are tons of resources out there to help you start<\/span>\u00a0this type of program at your organization.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It can be widespread throughout the entire organization \u2013 where you meet regularly and have a multitude of resources for all the staff involved. Or, it could be a smaller scale \u2013 like a Facebook group where staff can post about their thoughts and feelings. Find out what works for you and your team.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And don’t be afraid\u2014support groups are one of the most effective tools for helping and empowering one another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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2. Check In with Each Other\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If a support group feels too formal, you can make it even easier by just touching base with your colleagues. It is a simple but effective way to show your team that you care about them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask them genuine questions about how they’re doing. It’ll show them that you care about how they’re feeling. It’ll also give them a chance to share how they’re being affected by the current climate.\u00a0<\/span>You may have to be the first to open up and tell them how you’re <\/span>actually<\/span><\/i> doing, and that may help them feel comfortable opening up to share what they’re dealing with. So tell them how you’re doing and <\/span>be honest<\/span><\/i>. They’ll feel more comfortable being vulnerable with you if you’re vulnerable first.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If someone tells you they’re struggling \u2013 be prepared. Have a list of resources on hand like a support group or crisis hotline and prepare yourself for what you will say. Don’t just say, “everything will be okay,” because that’s not helpful. Tell them you understand, have been there, and appreciate them sharing with you. They don’t need you to fix their feelings at that moment; just <\/span>hear them<\/span><\/i>.\u00a0 Also, please remember that if someone confides something serious that concerns you (such as suicidal thoughts or self-harm) please recommend them to see a professional.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3. Prioritize Wellness\u00a0<\/strong><\/h4>\n

Nurses are getting burnt out because of the long and demanding hours and the trauma of working in healthcare. Many are working overtime instead of taking care of themselves, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. But, it’s never been more important for nurses to take care of themselves. Nurses are leaving the profession in droves, and COVID has only worsened it. Last year, Vivian reported that 40% of healthcare professionals were considering leaving their profession. This year, 67% of respondents indicated they plan to leave healthcare, and 11.3% of respondents said they would leave within the next 6 months.<\/span><\/p>\n

So what can you personally do? You can be a role model to your colleagues by taking care of yourself.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n