Staff well-being: nursing managers need to ensure support and resources
Nursing staff are exposed to other people’s suffering and the demands of many overstretched services, which can affect their health and well-being. While nurses can take positive steps to support themselves and their colleagues, health and social care leaders at every level need to ensure that the correct resources and supports are in place so healthcare staff can continue to engage in clinical and caring practice for those in need
It is essential that health and social care leaders ensure there are the right resources and support for healthcare staff
I recently attended a nursing conference where the last speaker of the day spoke about the urgent need to take practical and positive steps to look after ourselves and our colleagues.
The speaker reminded the attendees that the nature of nursing and healthcare means that healthcare workers are often exposed to other people’s suffering and the demands of many overstretched services, which can affect their health and well-being.
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Similarly, in his article Organisational support and strategies to address nurse burnout and enhance resilience on burnout, Carlito Adan recognises this reality and that without help, nurses may face physical, emotional and mental exhaustion.
Response from many health and social care services to understaffing is grossly inadequate
While Adan suggests some practical steps to support colleagues and to care for oneself, he also recognises the need for the correct safety measures, resources and support to be in place.
‘Health and social care leaders at every level need to ensure that the correct resources and supports are in place so that nurses and their fellow healthcare workers can continue to engage in clinical and caring practice to those in need’
The presence or absence of key resources is also reflected in Tuckwood et al’s article, Hospital staff’s experiences of unsafe staffing levels and employers’ responses to their concerns: a survey, reporting on a survey where staff voiced their concern that the response from many health and social care services to understaffing remains grossly inadequate.
While nurses can take positive steps to support themselves and their colleagues, health and social care leaders at every level need to ensure that the correct resources and supports are in place so that nurses and their fellow healthcare workers can continue to engage in clinical and caring practice to those in need.
Barry Quinn is a senior lecturer at Queen’s University Belfast School of Nursing and Midwifery
