Addressing Burnout Part 3: Strategies to Prevent and Manage Stress

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated the levels of stress and burnout health care workers face on a regular basis. Many health care workers reported sleep disturbances as well as physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion.

It is important for health care workers across the country to know they are not alone. There are several valuable resources to assist health care workers, and fortunately, various health organizations are expanding efforts to address these issues.

The American Pharmacists Association (APhA) indicates unmanaged stress and burnout can lead to health issues, job dissatisfaction, diminished commitment, and distraction.¹ The APhA notes all these factors can take a toll on affected health care workers and can also impact patient care through medication errors and other mistakes resulting from inadequate patient education.¹  

Initiatives to Address Clinician Burnout

In 2017, the National Academy of Medicine (NAM) unveiled the Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience, a network of more than 200 organizations dedicated to reducing clinician burnout.² The NAM indicates the network has 3 primary goals:

1. Increase awareness about clinician anxiety, burnout, depression, stress, and suicide.
2. Enhance baseline awareness about challenges to clinician well-being.
3. Improve evidence-based, multidisciplinary resolutions to enhance patient care via caring for the health care worker.

In a press release, the NAM announced the Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being and Resilience is working on a national plan for improving clinician wellness. On May 20, 2022, the NAM invited public input on the plan.³

Victor Dzau, president, NAM, cochair, Clinician Well-Being Collaborative, stated, “We are seeking external feedback on the National Plan because it is critical to hear the perspectives of all who have a stake in health to make progress toward a health ecosystem that better serves both patients and health workers. We’re relying on the insights of health workers, patient communities, health leaders, policymakers, and others to shape the National Plan, as they will ultimately be the ones to carry these actions forward.”³

The NAM indicates that from May 20, 2022 to May 27, 2022, they are inviting public input on the draft national plan for health workforce well-being.

Strategies to Reduce or Prevent Stress and Burnout

The Mental Health America Organization (MHAO) provides some advice⁴ that may aid in dealing with and preventing burnout and stress, including the following:

• Speak with a supervisor if you are having issues or contact human resources department about reduced hours and/or workload.
• Monitor for signs of burnout and seek help when needed.
• Maintain healthy habits such as eating a balanced diet, exercise, and practicing good sleep and hygiene.
• Implement relaxation and stress reduction measures into daily routine.
• Establish a core support system with family and close friends.
• Seek professional help from a therapist when needed.

Studies indicate interacting with colleagues, finding a positive support system, and forming peer connections can diminish emotional exhaustion.⁵ The MHAO also provides helpful resources on their site.

The APhA offers a guide for pharmacists to identify and prevent burnout. Some examples of tips from the APhA¹ include the following:

• Always discuss work challenges with a supervisor, and make recommendations to ease and better manage workload and create a positive work environment.
• Implement both physical and psychological self-care measures into daily routine to promote positive overall health and well-being.

The APhA has also created an online resource to promote clinician well-being.

To support health and well-being, the APhA also recommends the following strategies¹ for clinicians:

• Meet basic needs: Eat, drink, sleep, and exercise regularly.
• Take breaks: Taking appropriate rest leads to proper care of patients after your break.
• Stay connected: Partner with colleagues to support each other and monitor each other's stress, workload, and safety. Contact family and loved ones for support.
• Respect differences: Recognize and respect differences in yourself, your patients, and your colleagues, such as needing to talk vs needing to be alone.
• Stay updated: Rely on trusted sources of information and participate in meetings where relevant information is provided. However, avoid watching or listening to news reports 24/7. Graphic imagery and worrisome messages can increase your stress and may reduce your effectiveness and overall well-being.
• Perform self-check-ins: Monitor yourself over time for any symptoms of depression or stress, such as prolonged sadness, difficulty sleeping, intrusive memories, and/or hopelessness. Talk to a peer or supervisor, advise management so that they can provide support interventions, or seek professional help.
• Honor your service: Remind yourself and others of the important and noble work you are doing. Recognize colleagues for their service.

Additionally, the NAM provides a list of resources to support clinician well-being.

Conclusion

Every day, take some time to recharge yourself by exercising, taking walks, listening to some relaxing music, starting a creative hobby like gardening or painting, and taking breaks from electronic devices. Instead of texting, call someone who is a positive force in your life, and spend quality time with loved ones.

The health and well-being of health care workers is an important issue that requires ongoing attention and action. It is vital that health care workers utilize the various resources available to them and remember to take care of themselves too.

Health care workers across the country need to know that they are valued and appreciated. After all, their dedicated efforts to patient care are essential to providing safe and quality care to their patients. 

References:

1. English T. The pharmacist’s guide to recognizing and preventing burnout. American Pharmacists Association. Published July 30, 2021. Accessed May 24, 2022. https://www.pharmacist.com/Publications/Transitions/the-pharmacists-guide-to-recognizing-and-preventing-burnout    
2. National Academy of Medicine. Action Collaborative on Clinician Well-Being And Resilience. Accessed May 24, 2022. https://nam.edu/initiatives/clinician-resilience-and-well-being/    
3. NAM provides opportunity for public to inform national plan for health workforce well-being. News release. National Academy of Medicine; May 20, 2022. Accessed May 24, 2022.  https://nam.edu/nam-provides-opportunity-for-public-to-inform-national-plan-for-health-workforce-well-being/
4. Mental Health America. Facing burnout as a healthcare worker. Accessed May 24, 2022. https://www.mhanational.org/facing-burnout-healthcare-worker
5. Reith TP. Burnout in United States healthcare professionals: A narrative review. Cureus. 2018;10(12):e3681. doi:10.7759/cureus.3681