Among nurses, 65% said their top challenge is stress and burnout, but 48% said their workplace does not offer mental health resources, or they are unsure if they exist, a recent survey found.
The survey, conducted by Florida Atlantic University’s Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing and Cross Country, analyzed results from 2,600 nurses and nursing students in healthcare settings. Sixty percent of nurses worked in hospitals and medical groups, and 14% worked in home health and assisted living.
Here are five things to know:
1. The top stressors for nurses are insufficient staffing levels, insufficient pay and benefits, lack of leadership support, high-pressure environments, and verbal or physical abuse from patients.
2. Among nurses, 65% said their top challenge is stress and burnout, 59% cited staff shortages and high patient ratios, 52% said inadequate pay and benefits, while 51% said feeling undervalued by management.
3. Among nursing students, 68% said they worry about managing workloads and 58% said they are concerned about emotional stress during their transition.
4. Nurses identified mental health resources as an organizational gap. Of nurses, 24% said their workplaces offer no mental health resources, 21% said their employer offers support, but it goes unused, and 24% said they are unsure what resources exist.
5. Nurses said they want more flexible schedules, time off, break or sleep rooms, recognition programs, and stress management and wellness programs.