Nurses: How to deal with COVID-19 burnout

As we approach nearly 10 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, nurses are approaching burnout at a faster rate than ever before. As they deal with the politicization of the pandemic and the increasing numbers of COVID patients, nurses are beginning to feel the weight of the past year. Here’s how you can deal with this stress and hopefully prevent burnout before it’s too late.

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1- Do something fun on your day off

This one might seem too obvious to be real advice but I see so many nurses nowadays who spend their days off laying on their couch and thinking about how bad this year has been. By not utilizing your days off to make your life better, you are only fuelling your acceleration to complete burnout.

I know that it’s hard right now with lockdowns, social distancing, and mask mandates. But it is so important to do something that you truly enjoy on your days off. And that will be something different for everyone. Maybe you like jogging, or playing video games, or watching Tik Toks. Whatever your thing is, try to make it something that you can look forward to while you are struggling at work.

2- Stop picking up extra shifts

The money has never been better for nurses and many are taking advantage of insane contracts, overtime, and other incentive pay. While making extra money is really nice, you need to know your limit and stop risking your mental health in order to make some extra cash. That money won’t help with your eventual burnout and you can’t buy peace of mind. By all means, pick up an extra shift when you feel like you are up to it. But don’t put your health on the line for money.

3- Talk to someone

Whether it be a friend or a professional, be sure to talk to someone about what you are going through. No nurse should be expected to endure this nearly year long pandemic nightmare without having someone you can open up to. Choose a close friend, family member, or therapist who you know and trust and you will feel so much better getting that weight off your shoulders.

4- Be the positive nurse at work

This is something I’m still working on but have noticed huge changes since I’ve started to change my mindset while at work. At first, I was typically one of the more pessimistic nurses at work and would join in on conversations about how bad this sucks and how we hate our jobs. One day, I realized that this was a self-fulfilling prophecy and that if I could change my mindset then I could be in control of this situation. So now, my goal everyday at work is to be someone who always looks for the positive in every situation. People will naturally pick up on your positive energy and will naturally start to follow your lead. This will make you happier AND your coworkers happier.

Do you have any tips for dealing with burnout? Leave them in the comments below!