Nurse researchers should take time to consider their workplace and the impact their work has on their and colleagues’ mental and physical health

Just as the demands of clinical practice impact the health of clinical nurses, the demands on nurse researchers can significantly impact researcher health. However, this issue has received limited attention in the literature. Nurse researchers face several challenges that impact their health and well-being.

‘I would encourage all nurse researchers to consider their workplace and the impact their work has on their own mental and physical health and the health of colleagues’

First, many are involved in research on sensitive topics or with vulnerable participants. This places them at risk of vicarious trauma or moral injury.

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Second, nurse researchers in academia often face significant pressure to maximise performance while concurrently juggling high teaching loads and administrative responsibilities. Such pressures are perhaps greatest among PhD candidates and early/mid-career nurse researchers, who often have family responsibilities. These pressures can lead to stress, burnout and exhaustion.

Nurse researchers need a workplace where they can thrive

Nurse researchers must be afforded workplaces where they can thrive. It is important that we recognise issues such as vicarious trauma and unreasonable workloads as workplace harms and respond accordingly. Doing so is vital to promote the health and retention of the nurse researcher workforce. Positive and supportive environments are key to outstanding performance.

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There is a role for all researchers in identifying workplace harms and working with managers and organisations to implement health-promoting strategies. Such action relies on individuals and groups recognising that the challenges they face are not unique to themselves, but rather harmful aspects of a working environment.

It is all too easy for individual nurse researchers to be overwhelmed by work demands and perceive themselves as failures, rather than identifying workplace harms.

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I would encourage all nurse researchers to consider their workplace and the impact their work has on their own mental and physical health and the health of colleagues. If such reflection prompted just a few nurse researchers to start conversations in their workplace about health and safety, it could have a significant impact.

Elizabeth Halcomb is professor of primary healthcare nursing, School of Nursing, University of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia and editor of Nurse Researcher