Burnout in nursing
Challenging work conditions lead to widespread mental health problems and burnout among nurses and midwives, according to a report by the Society for Occupational Medicine.
Nursing and midwifery are professions where routine tasks have a transformative positive effect on those that care for, their families, and the nursing staff themselves. The work of delivering care is not easy though – often what comes with it includes long shifts, under-resourced wards, and poor staff facilities.
Every member of the nursing team will know the particular challenges of staying happy and healthy whilst looking after people who are unwell. But what interventions and forms of support are available to them as they deliver expert care?
The RCN Foundation has funded a number of projects to scope out the causes of burnout, ill health and poor mental wellbeing among nurses and midwives, and supports projects that address those issues.
