The workforce crisis within the healthcare industry has now reached alarming levels worldwide. While the phenomenon is not necessarily new, it was worsened significantly by the pandemic and post-pandemic aftershocks. The United States is no exception and is set for a long-term healthcare labor shortage. In 2023, 160 million Americans lived in areas with mental health professional shortages, 65% of rural communities had a shortage of primary care physicians, and the list goes on. Estimates show that by 2034, the U.S. will have 134,000 fewer physicians than needed. So what is the consequence of this? Burnout is the new normal for current healthcare professionals, with the U.S. Surgeon General officially declaring in 2022 that it was an urgent national crisis.

But what do we mean by burnout and what are its effects? Constant stress, helplessness, disillusionment, physical and emotional exhaustion, and in some circumstances, nervous breakdowns, are some of its most recognizable symptoms. In the workplace, it can lead to hampered performance, decreased engagement, and reduced loyalty; for individuals, it can lead to isolation from friends and family, substance abuse, and even the development of mental illnesses such as depression. Current healthcare workers or ABSN online students preparing to enter the healthcare industry in the near future, learning how to beat situations where you are experiencing burnout, and methods of intervening in burned-out employees for providers, are now, arguably, essential skills. 

While healthcare workers reach out their hands to others, is there another hand that reaches out to them when they need help? Who is caring for the carers? The well-being and grievances of frontline health workers must be a top priority during these tough times. Let’s examine some valuable ways to improve and ultimately, prevent worker burnout in the healthcare industry. 

Always Watch the Signs

Healthcare providers should be dutiful and on a constant lookout for employees displaying warning signs or preexisting symptoms of burnout. Depersonalization, reduced sense of accomplishment, or a loss of meaning in work are other recognized symptoms and characteristics of burnout. Many healthcare workers are exposed to trauma regularly, so it should be unconditional that providers are always taking care of their employees’ physical and emotional well-being.

As an employee, you should maintain a close eye on your co-workers for these signs, and they should also do the same for you. When your coworker says they are suffering from burnout, always take these concerns seriously. Regardless of whether it might or might not meet the set definition of burnout, something is clearly going on for them. Having empathy and engaging in active listening, particularly for employees who feel they are underappreciated and undervalued, can go miles in preventing internal conflicts that involve aggression, damaged relationships, and even physical violence. Conflict in the workplace is a sign that burnout has stretched far beyond the breaking point.

Affirming Work-Life Balance

The difficulty of ensuring work-life balance amidst this long-term shortage crisis is obvious, but it is still doable if providers are creative. Nearly three-quarters of hospital nurses in the U.S. work 12-hour shifts each week, which does not include commute time; for emergency medical service professionals, working longer than 40 hours per week is an all-too-common sight. Reasons for burnout amongst healthcare professionals become rather self-explanatory from these figures. 

The cause and consequence of burnout, especially with effects such as withdrawal, can happen concomitantly. Lack of contact with friends and family due to overworking can cause stress and burnout; at the same time, social withdrawal from friends and family – leading to social isolation – is also a consequence of being burned out. In the information age, leveraging digital solutions is necessary for providers – this includes automating redundant labor, which can dramatically mitigate the labor shortage crisis. Digital solutions can free professional healthcare practitioners to place more energy into giving quality patient care and achieve a proper work-life balance. 

As a professional healthcare practitioner, you have the right to voice your complaints if you are not achieving the work-life balance you are rightfully entitled to. When you and your coworkers are all experiencing burnout, you can take the initiative to affirm your rights and represent these concerns. Not only would overworking damage the physical and mental health of professionals, but also endanger patient safety. 

Setting Boundaries

In the workplace, boundaries usually mean how an employee should be treated on and off work. It means that fundamental needs such as a fair salary, safe working conditions, and work hours are met and respected. Work-life balance is a key aspect of this too. 

Working in healthcare can be quite stressful and all-consuming. Without clear boundaries, employees would take on more responsibilities than they can handle, which becomes the precursor to burnout. As an employee, you must set the boundaries clearly and explicitly; as an employer, you need to respect and follow them. For example, providers should definitely not be assigning medical paperwork or work emails to practitioners during off-time. 

Utilizing Support Groups

While there has been an emphasis on ‘self-care’ in recent years, which essentially means taking care of one’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being, to deal with burnout, it is still insufficient. Burnout is systemic, and systemic problems require systemic solutions. Self-care can address burnout, but it is inadequate as a solution – implementing structural changes such as support groups, however, can do both.   

To this day, mental health issues are stigmatized, and it is one of the main reasons why many healthcare workers are reluctant to seek support. Encouraging self-care is not going to make employee burnout magically go away. Providers should invest in wellness programs, such as counselors, well-being centers, psychological aid, and harassment-free workplaces. A good example is a coalition led by the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation which created the WellBeing First Champion Challenge. Institutions registered with the organization receive a ‘WellBeing First Champion Badge’ as a symbol of support to employees, where they will not lose their position if they seek mental health assistance.

Fostering Workplace Connection

The emotional exhaustion of workplace burnout usually turns into loneliness and isolation. A way to alleviate burnout among healthcare professionals is to give opportunities for collaboration and communication between peers. A study in October 2022 found that 50% of workers across various industries cited a lack of collaboration and communication with other workers as the main cause of stress. Less burnout would occur if there were more collaboration between health professionals.

In building connections with colleagues, it not only creates networks for those who are seeking help but also cultivates a sense of solidarity when things become difficult and stressful. Celebrations, volunteering, and gatherings are great ways for healthcare workers to build strong connections. Group chats and mobile collaborations are other convenient ways to ensure continuous cross-peer dialogue. As an employee, you can also lead the charge when the opportunities come. 

The labor shortage crisis in healthcare will not disappear anytime soon, so healthcare workers and providers must proactively reduce and prevent its most pernicious effects, such as burnout, from creeping into the workplace. Health forms the bedrock of our society, and we must ensure that our carers are being cared for because they are, after all, humans too.  

Further Reading: 

ChatGPT in Human Resources
How to Address Healthcare Issues and Risks in the Workplace?
The 7 Best Tips For HR Data Security in 2023