How about we discuss something interesting today? Well, do you know that the emphasis on mental health is increasing day by day? And now people are more concerned about their mental health than ever before. Whether it is our parents or it’s us, all of us are very concerned about our mental well-being. But there is one profession that really needs to pay much attention to its mental well-being, and that is nursing. So, the UK government is now emphasizing the mental health of their nurses, specifically after the COVID-19 crisis, which has led to severe mental health issues among nurses, not just in the UK but all around the world. So, let us shed some more light on this interesting topic and see where it leads us.

 

The Demanding Nature of Nursing

 

Long Shift Hours

Well, if you think that nursing is a 9-5 job where you get your weekends off. Then you are completely wrong. Nursing is a full-time job where you have to stay alert and ready all the time for possible emergencies. And most importantly, they don’t have any fixed shift timings. Sometimes, they have to work day shifts, while other times, they have to be available for the night shift. And there is no flexibility in that. And sometimes their shift timings are so long that leads to exhaustion.

 

Emotional Strain

You know the role of nursing is quite important. They are not just doing any random job. But their actions have a direct consequence on someone’s life. They cannot make mistakes like all of us can because mistakes made by them might cost someone their life. So, they are under constant emotional pressure while dealing with life-and-death situations all the time. And even after all of this, they have to maintain a smile on their face to provide emotional support to their patients.

 

High-Stress Environment

As I said, nursing is not an easy field. They are working in high-stress environments all the time. You never know what will happen in the next moment. So, continuous exposure to these pressures might lead to stress and burnout among nurses.

 

Importance of Mental Health for Nurses

Now that we know why nurses are under so much pressure and stress. It is high time nurses understood the importance of mental health. And how it can impact the quality of care they provide.

 

Better Patient Care

Well, that is quite obvious that if your caregiver is not well mentally, then how are they supposed to take care of you? The job of a nurse is to take care of the patients both physically and mentally. So, if a nurse is struggling with their own issues, they will not be able to perform their duty. Well, stress is really toxic. So, when nurses are healthy mentally, they are more likely to perform their duty with focus and empathy.

 

Reduced Errors

Obviously, when you are stressed, you don’t really know what you are doing. And people often make mistakes when they are in stress. So, just imagine if this small mistake is made by a nurse. Even a small mistake by a nurse could lead to drastic results. So, obviously, the healthcare system can’t afford that. Hence, it is important to work on their mental health to make sure that they perform their duties efficiently without making any mistakes.

 

Happiness and Fulfillment

We have already seen the situation of nurses during the time of COVID-19. It was the most challenging time for them. After that, many nurses either quit their jobs or switched to less-pressuring roles. Because they don’t want to face that trauma again in their lives, that is why mental health is quite important for nurses. It will help the government to retain nurses as the UK government is already facing a shortfall of nurses after the coronavirus. So, when nurses are happy and satisfied with their jobs, they are less likely to leave.

 

How to Support the Mental Health of Nurses?

 

Provide Assistance

One way to help nurses cope with their stress is to help them out whenever possible. Well, sometimes nurses are stressed about their studies as well. So, the Nursing Dissertation Help is playing an important part in lowering this burden for them. To help them perform well practically while they take care of their assignments.

 

Foster a Supportive Environment

The nurses must be provided with a supportive environment. An environment where they can share their feelings and emotions. Well, this can really make a big difference in their lives. Because they will know that they have someone at their back to support them.

 

Wrapping it Up

So, in a nutshell, we now know that mental health holds significant importance in all of our lives, specifically nurses. Obviously, nurses are responsible for taking care of patients. And if they are themselves dealing with some mental health issues, how are they supposed to take care of you? So, it is quite crucial for them to take care of their mental health before they start taking care of a patient. So, if you are a nurse, then take time for yourself and invest in your mental well-being. As it is not just important for you but for your patients as well.