From Nurse Turnover to Nurse Retention: Impactful Ways to Boost Morale in Your Healthcare Team
Most nurses will tell you they got into the profession because of their desire to help people heal and improve their quality of life. It’s heartening to see the advancements in modern medicine and realize all the capabilities there are to help people live healthier lives, but what happens when the daily demands of the nursing profession take too big a toll on those who are dedicated to help and heal? It can lead to burnout and a nursing shortage in hospitals, clinics and healthcare-related businesses, and that places an undue burden on those healthcare professionals left to cover caregiving needs.
One recent study confirmed that as many as half of the nurses in the United States suffer from burnout and its related effects, which can hinder job performance as well as personal health and well-being. Nurse burnout also affects patients, meaning that no matter how dedicated they are to their jobs, nurses who are burnt out and exhausted mentally and emotionally are unable to give their very best to patients.
What Is Nursing Burnout and Why Is It Happening?
As the saying goes, nurses are burning the candle at both ends. With longer shifts, fewer days off, higher patient loads and staff shortages, it’s no surprise that many healthcare facilities find themselves looking for ways to prevent nurse burnout. Nurses have always been lauded as heroes, but with the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare professionals were called to do more than they had ever done, with fewer supplies, understaffed teams and nearly incalculable losses that took a severe toll on their own mental health. It was exhausting and mentally draining, both professionally and personally.
First coined in the 1970s, the term “burnout” is not new. It was originally used to describe the emotional and physical fatigue that developed from work-related stress, especially in healthcare professionals. And while burnout has been around for quite a while, only recently have hospitals, clinics and businesses begun to focus on leadership strategies to promote nurse retention and ways to combat nurse fatigue.
The Damaging Effects of a Nursing Shortage
The effects of a nursing shortage are not only damaging to patients and hospitals. They are damaging to nurses too and often show up in the form of physical illnesses like weakened immune systems, emotional and mental exhaustion, gastrointestinal issues and chronic pain. Not only do these issues take a huge toll on nursing professionals, but also on their family members and loved ones.
Impactful Retention Ideas for Nurses
When it comes to nurse retention strategies, there are several great ways to reward your staff and let them know how much they matter. Remember, it’s the little things that will increase nurse job satisfaction and let them know that they are appreciated at their place of employment. Plus, a little planning and appreciation up front can end up saving you a lot of money in the long run when it comes to combatting high nurse turnover costs!
Say it with a card. At Hallmark Business Connections, you’ll find just the right nurse appreciation greeting card to send to your skilled healthcare team to let them know how much you appreciate their hard work. While nursing burnout is a real thing, when you go the extra mile to send little reminders of your gratitude, you’ll boost feelings of workplace satisfaction and lessen the likelihood of nurse burnout. You can even select a card for a single recipient and add a personalized message to the inside; then, we’ll stamp and mail it for you with our Mail to One greetings. No matter the size of your hospital, clinic or healthcare-related business, we’ve got you covered with our wide assortment of greeting cards for your nursing staff.
Encourage self-care. One of the biggest and best ways you can show support to your nursing staff is to promote healthy self-care activities. Simple things like setting up a table for a puzzle in the break room, providing specialty coffee pods and tea bags, or creating a healthy grab-and-go snack station can go a long way toward showing your nurses how much you care about them and value them as professionals. Especially during long shifts, it means a lot to nurses to be able to have a healthy selection of quick foods on hand to keep them going strong. Plus, with the tired feet, hungry stomachs and sore muscles that most nurses universally share, you can get as creative as you want and be assured that a self-care gift will be appreciated by everyone.
Offer a workout. Many larger employers have workout facilities on-site, but if your team is a bit smaller, consider partnering with a local gym, yoga studio or trainer to create a plan that works for your team. Often, local facilities will offer discounts for groups and local businesses, so reach out and set up an ongoing membership—or just a sweat sesh or two—for anyone who wants to participate. It’s a great way to provide an activity that is flexible around multiple shifts, and it will reduce stress and encourage a healthy habit that will energize your nursing team, on and off the clock.
Give a little gift. When you give a token of your appreciation, it doesn’t have to be expensive or bust the budget. At Hallmark Business Connections, we have a variety of small gifts that are specially created to leave a lasting impact. Our corporate gifts like bookmarks, small notebooks and calendars with uplifting quotes and images are perfect for the workplace, and they are an excellent way to remind nurses how much their contributions matter on a daily basis. Consider wowing a great nurse with an elevated expression of your gratitude by sending a bouquet of fresh cut Hallmark flowers or speak to their sweet tooth and gift them a delectable gift box of Christopher Elbow luxury chocolates.
Your nurses are hardworking, caring and empathetic, but they are also tired. The nursing shortage may have started with COVID-19, but turnover in the industry remains a hurdle. You can make a difference in the way you encourage and give back to your team.
When you go out of your way to recognize the hard work of the nurses on your staff and make efforts to reduce their stress and burnout, you’ll make great strides in reducing nursing turnover. Focus on work-life balance and encourage the personal, physical and mental health of your staff, and you will escalate the nursing career satisfaction of your entire team, leading to a happier workplace overall.
To get more great ideas about how to thank nurses for all they do, be sure to read our article 10 Ways to Thank Nurses During Nurses Week 2024. You’ll even find a selection of personalized messages to help you get started with crafting the perfect note for the caregivers on your staff.