Encouraging healthcare professionals to prioritize their mental health is important to us here at Titan Medical. The mental health of healthcare professionals is vital as it directly influences their ability to provide quality care not only to their patients, residents, and families but for themselves. Healthcare partners in a healthy mental space are more resilient to the stress inherent in the profession, reducing burnout and turnover rates, which are pervasive issues in healthcare settings. Regular check-ins, access to mental health resources, and fostering a culture that destigmatizes seeking help are essential components of ensuring healthcare providers can cope with the challenges they face!
Caregivers put their personal needs and mental health on the back burner.
We know that caregivers often put their personal needs on the back burner while pouring into others. While this is fulfilling in many ways, it can also leave some of your own needs unmet. At Titan Medical, we want to encourage and empower you to prioritize your well-being. We recognize that in order to give high-quality bedside care, you need to feel fulfilled outside of your career, too. Our Clinical Team here at Titan Medial has a few ideas and tips for Healthcare Professionals on staying mentally healthy!
“We, as the Clinical team, can empathize with the demands of running on empty while caring for those around you. We know that as caregivers, we often put our personal needs on the back burner while pouring into others. While this is fulfilling for us in many ways; it can also leave some of our own needs unmet. At Titan Medical, we want to encourage and empower you to prioritize your well-being. We recognize that in order to give high-quality bedside care, you need to feel fulfilled outside of your career, too. “
Here are a few quick and simple suggestions to help prioritize YOU!
Take 10 minutes to step outside & walk. An opportunity for sunshine and fresh air always seems to help! Stepping away from the bedside to clear your mind and walk for enjoyment.
Meditation. Even if you only have a few minutes, taking the time to deep breath in a quiet, peaceful space, can help provide a moment of relaxation.
Find local gyms or fitness groups to join where you are traveling! Mention you are a healthcare worker who is traveling through and ask about special rates/ pricing!
Try a new restaurant! Ask co-workers who are local about some of their favorite hidden gems in the area!
Talking with friends and family. Be sure to stay connected with those around you who provide comfort and support!
Learn something new! Nurture your inner creativity and talent.
Is there a local community college that offers adult classes? Cooking, musical lessons, art, etc.
Community Centers may offer sporting leagues/opportunities for recreational involvement.
Subscription to a meal-prep or culinary delivery service! Easy to change your address and preferences. These services help fulfill your nutritional needs while traveling! Access to high-quality foods can be challenging in some areas.
Create an ID.me account (free to make) to gain access to many discounted services, apps, apparel, scrubs, shoes, etc.
If you or someone you know is struggling with their mental health, below are resources to reach out for help.
Mental Health Emergency Hotline
988
Self-Harm Hotline
1-800-366-8288
For the Frontlines
Text FRONTLINE to 741741
Therapy Aid Coalition
https://www.therapyaid.org/
Happy
https://www.happythemovement.com/home
The Emotional PPE Project
https://emotionalppe.org/
Make sure to follow Titan Medical on Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and LinkedIn for the latest updates on all things Titan and Travel Healthcare!
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If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:
By: Zachary Hall, Key Account Manager, Medical Edge Recruitment
As a travel nurse, committing to contracts lasting 8-13 weeks or longer often places you far from home. In this role, you may work long hours and care for a diverse range of patients. Despite being a dedicated professional, it’s essential to recognize your human side. The medical field can be both physically and mentally demanding, emphasizing the need to prioritize mental health both during and between assignments.
Why is Mental Health Crucial, Particularly in Nursing?
Mental health refers to a person’s psychological and emotional well-being. Indicators of good mental health include the ability to experience joy for others, a desire for social interactions, maintaining healthy relationship boundaries, balanced routines, and an overall sense of energy and happiness. Conversely, signs of poor mental health encompass excessive worrying, mood swings, persistent fatigue, changes in appetite, decreased functioning, and more. Mental health challenges can permeate personal and professional life, affecting productivity, increasing absenteeism, and impacting overall performance. In the medical industry, maintaining good mental health is not just a personal choice; it can be a matter of life and death. Therefore, prioritizing mental health is imperative for nurses.
How to Prioritize Mental Health? The Solution is Self-Care.
Burnout resulting from overworking can significantly contribute to poor mental health, preventing the body from recovering adequately. It’s easy to become caught up in consecutive shifts during an assignment, neglecting essential downtime. A proactive approach to avoid overworking involves pre-planning time off and strategically incorporating days of requested time off (RTO) to catch up on much-needed rest and relaxation.
During RTO days, it’s crucial to avoid tasks that induce stress or overexertion, as these defeat the purpose of taking time for yourself. These days can serve as opportunities to engage in self-care activities, defined as behaviors focusing on mental, physical, and emotional well-being. Self-care encompasses a broad spectrum, including exercise, napping, spa treatments, walks, cooking, dining out, pursuing joyful hobbies, and more. While self-care isn’t limited to these activities, they can serve as starting points for those seeking inspiration.
Mental Health and Self-Care for Nurses
Reiterating the importance of mental health for nurses is crucial due to the demanding nature of the profession. As a hard-working professional, recognizing your humanity is vital, making your mental health as important as anyone else’s. Boosting your mental health involves engaging in acts of self-care to relax and reset. Since self-care is individualized, finding activities that resonate with you is key. Investing time in self-care pays dividends in the long run, contributing to your overall well-being and resilience in the challenging field of nursing.
Working with an agency that prioritizes self-care is important. Searching for an agency that will support you?
Medical Edge Recruitment is a premier travel nursing recruitment agency specializing in providing top talent to clients in the healthcare industry. We connect clinical and allied providers to their ideal opportunities, focusing on building long-lasting relationships through honesty and transparency. In travel nursing, bigger does not always mean better. While we have an extensive network of job opportunities, our experienced team is dedicated to making a personalized provider experience a priority. There are a lot of moving parts in getting set up for a new assignment, but we take care of all the details along the way. Adventure awaits. Let Medical Edge Recruitment show you where to go next!
Committed to delivering outstanding care on the go, travel nurses often overlook their own well-being. Juggling demanding schedules, battling post-shift fatigue, and yearning for moments of relaxation often cause them to neglect self-care.
If you haven’t explored Uniti Med’s guide to improving mental health and well-being for medical professionals yet, you can find it here. These seven practical everyday tips are designed to integrate into your hectic life seamlessly. However, we recognize that implementing all these changes at once can be overwhelming, especially with a packed schedule. Here are some actionable steps to get you started today:
Express your gratitude to someone you care about. This simple act will not only boost your own well-being but also enhance the recipient’s mood. It’s a win-win situation, leaving both parties feeling more loved, loving, and happier, thus increasing the likelihood of this positive state enduring.
Extend grace to yourself. Perfection is unattainable, and holding onto past mistakes can hinder your progress. Forgive not only others but also yourself. Release the burdens of wrongs done to you and those you’ve committed against others. Remember that we’re all doing our best with the knowledge we possess, and it’s time to elevate yourself and your life to a higher plane.
Not To Do:
Avoid falling into the trap of judgment and comparison. Whether in your professional or personal life, be mindful of these destructive habits, as they’ve been shown to reduce happiness, increase anger and stress, and lower your overall quality of life.
Resist the urge to stay up late watching screens or scrolling through your phone. Unless you’re working the night shift with no other choice, it’s counterproductive to watch TV or browse your phone late into the night, especially when you have an early morning ahead. This habit has been linked to reduced dopamine levels the next day and disrupted sleep patterns. Consider turning off screens about an hour before bedtime and create a dark, cool, and quiet sleeping environment to fall asleep faster and stay asleep. It’s also a perfect opportunity to pick up a book.
Avoid consuming alcohol or eating a heavy meal right before bedtime. Digesting food demands a significant amount of energy from your body, diverting it away from the restorative sleep your body needs. While these practices may help you fall asleep initially, they often result in lower sleep quality and frequent nighttime awakenings.
By following these simple yet effective guidelines, you can significantly improve your well-being. Remember, your health and happiness are essential for providing the best care possible to others. Best of luck on your journey towards enhanced well-being!
Looking for your next assignment? The recruiters at Uniti Med are ready to help you take the next step – contact us today!
Travel nursing can be a rewarding career path for nurses across a wide range of specialties who want to travel the country and take on new challenges. But moving to new locations and working in unfamiliar environments can also be taxing. That’s why it’s essential for travel nurses to embrace support systems while on assignment. Here are some ways you can find support as a travel nurse.
Get to Know Your Coworkers
Coming into a new work environment can be intimidating, no matter how many assignments you’ve been on as a travel nurse. This is where connecting with your coworkers can help you feel more grounded. Even though your assignment at a particular healthcare facility may be temporary, making an effort to get to know the people around you can help alleviate the stress and loneliness you may sometimes feel on the road.
Turn to Friends and Family
Like other life challenges, stress at work can often be lessened by spending time with loved ones. Whether it’s talking on the phone or, connecting over video calls while you’re away on an assignment, or making plans to visit with friends and family during your time off, don’t hesitate to lean on the people in your life when you need them.
Join a Travel Nurse Network or Support Group
Need to talk with someone who understands what it’s like to be a travel nurse? There are a variety of travel nursing groups online, such as The Gypsy Nurse Facebook group, and travel nursing forums like Allnurses, where you can find camaraderie and form long-lasting friendships. Not only do these outlets give you a chance to meet people who can relate to the joys and challenges of travel nursing, but they also provide professional networking opportunities.
Utilize Mental Health Resources
Friends, family, and fellow travel nurses may be able to offer social connection and emotional support while you’re on a travel assignment, but they can’t replace the support of a mental health professional. If you’re struggling with more serious issues like anxiety or depression while working as a travel nurse, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), virtual counseling apps like BetterHelp, and other mental health resources can make a world of difference.
Listen to Podcasts About Travel Nursing
Finding media that relates to what you’re going through can help you feel less alone. “The Truth About Travel Nursing Podcast” with Kyle Schmidt provides a lighthearted but honest look into the world of travel nursing. There’s also “The Vintage Traveling Nurse Podcast,” where host Mynoucka shares ideas for taking your travel nursing career to the next level. Or you can get tips and tricks on navigating the industry from long-time travel nursing professional Mark Holloway on “Travel Insiders” and sequel podcast “Travel Evolved.”
Don’t Forget About Your Recruiter
Travel nursing recruiters can do more than help place you at your next assignment—they can also be a great asset to your support system! Work closely with them to establish goals and preferences for your travel nursing journey to ensure you have a positive experience. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them if you encounter issues while on assignment, as they can help you find a solution or direct you to a clinical support team. Building a good relationship with your recruiter is key, so be proactive about communication and receptive to any support they provide you!
Have more ideas or tips for finding support as a travel nurse? Comment below to share your thoughts, experiences, and stories.
As a nurse, you feel it in your mind, body, and soul — and you see it in your colleagues’ weary eyes. Between an ever-growing nurse staffing shortage, an increased need for patient care, and a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, nurse burnout is at an all-time high, and nurse mental health is suffering.
“I’ve been a nurse since 2014, and I love people, but I could not find my niche in nursing,” Alyssa Gainer, RN, said. “I switched jobs every one to two years, and after COVID started, I was ready for a new profession.”
Gainer, a Medical Solutions traveler, could’ve packed it in then, leaving an already struggling healthcare industry with one less nurse during a pandemic. But traveling gave her a path to keep going in nursing.
“I had friends that were traveling, and I love to travel, so I thought, ‘Let’s do it!’” Gainer said. “My husband and pets travel with me, and it has been such a blessing to go to hospitals that sincerely appreciate you being there.”
While she’s enjoying the journey — 7,000 miles so far, filled with “breathtaking views” — it’s also helped improve her mental health and recenter her focus on patient care.
“Travel nursing changed my outlook on being a nurse,” Gainer said. “I feel like I’m actually making a difference, and I’m no longer burnt out! I get to take breaks in between assignments, and I cannot express the joy of being a traveler.”
Luckily for Gainer, becoming a travel nurse gave her a new career outlook, and she addressed her own mental health while she continued to care for her patients. Unfortunately, Gainer isn’t alone; many nurses face burnout and mental health concerns.
Are the Nurses Alright?
Nurses tend to be strong, stoic in many situations, and so used to caring for others that they sometimes forget to care for themselves. While many Americans suffer from mental health issues, nurses have faced heavy personal and professional mental health burdens during the continuing nursing shortage, increased need for patient care, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In February 2023, Medical Solutions conducted a survey on mental health benefits — answered by 260 Medical Solutions travelers. The survey revealed a lot about nurse mental health and how travel nursing can improve it! We started by asking people to rate their overall mental health, and 55% said it was “good” or “excellent,” 28% “neutral,” 15% “somewhat poor,” and 2% “poor.”
In a series of questions, 56% of clinician respondents affirmed they have difficulty sleeping, 56% often worry about things that are out of their control, and 35% are often fatigued to the point that it impacts their ability to function. Another 16% reported they have difficulty seeing the positive in things.
But it’s not all bad news! We were happy to see 65% of respondents say their mental health was better since becoming a travel nurse than it was when they were on permanent staff. They said they felt the following aspects of travel nursing help improve their mental health: 90% said less involvement in workplace politics, 83% said the flexibility to choose jobs/locations, 71% said better work/life balance and change in environments, 32% attributed the improvement to better support as a travel nurse, and 11% said agency-provided mental health support.
In the same Medical Solutions survey, 61% of travelers responded that becoming a travel nurse actually improved their willingness to continue working as a nurse! This is very significant because it shows that travel nursing is actually keeping nurses working in the healthcare industry — which has great benefits for nurses, patient care, and facilities during the ongoing nurse shortage.
As many nurses know, taking care of your mental health is also important to your physical health. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), people with depression have a 40% higher risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic diseases than the general population, and those with serious mental illness are nearly twice as likely to develop these conditions. Data from NAMI also shows mental health issues can lead to substance abuse and an increased risk for unemployment.
Mental Health Care Solutions
The Medical Solutions team works really hard to put our travel clinicians first and consider them as whole people — body, mind, and spirit. While we know your recruiter is incredible — a rock, a sounding board, and an overall accomplice in the great world of travel nursing — sometimes you have a concern you need to discuss with an objective person. For those times, we offer an amazing Employee Assistance Program (EAP), free to all our current travelers. It provides access to various mental health resources and tools, including 24/7 virtual and in-person counseling sessions with licensed providers (up to five free sessions per issue per calendar year!), crisis lines, on-demand videos, webinars, forums, advocacy contacts, and other similarly helpful resources. Your EAP also extends to your immediate family members and can offer help with relationship and parenting issues, depression, anxiety, stress management, substance abuse, grief, work conflicts, child and eldercare concerns, financial issues, and more.
Code Lavender is also a great program for clinicians and staff facing a serious, in-hospital trauma. A Code Lavender team usually includes hospital chaplains, social workers, holistic certified nurses, trained volunteers, and others who quickly deploy (ideally within 30 minutes) to support a member of the facility’s team with a variety of helpful interventions meant to stabilize them mentally and emotionally.
Another Nurse Helped by Travel
Jennifer Randolph is a Medical Solutions ER RN who’s been in nursing for nearly 20 years.
“I’ve held many titles and roles, but my most proud is being an emergency room travel nurse,” Randolph said.
When the healthcare world changed during the COVID-19 pandemic, and nurses faced an unprecedented level of mental and emotional strain, she decided to jump out of her comfort zone and try travel nursing.
“Travel nursing has come with an enormous amount of personal and professional growth,” Randolph said. “I’ve met so many amazing people along the way, and it’s renewed my spirit and desire to be the best nurse I can possibly be.”
Take that nurse burnout! Randolph said the best part for her is she knows this is only the beginning of her career renaissance — a journey that so far proved inspiring and reignited her passion for nursing.
“I never thought that at this point in my career, I’d be traveling the United States and enjoying life so much,” Randolph said. “I’ve found a company that supports its nurses and a recruiter who truly has my best interest at heart… it’s brought new life and opportunities to this grateful nurse — and definitely proven it’s never too late to try something new.”
“Travel nursing has been the opportunity of a lifetime for this Midwestern girl,” she said. “I’ve not only flown high in a hot air balloon in Scottsdale, then conquered Thumb Butte Mountain, but I’ve also gone off-road in a Jeep, taking in all the beauty of the Red Rocks in Sedona, and I’ve toured Jerome, Cottonwood, and Clarksdale where we took a passenger train ride in Verde Valley Canyon. There have been so many sunrises and sunsets that I would’ve never had the opportunity to see otherwise.”
“God opened a new path for me, and I am grateful for Medical Solutions for making the journey very fun,” she said. “We’ve traveled over 7,000 miles since starting and have seen the most breathtaking views. If you’re considering traveling, I say do it! It truly has changed my life.”
Are you excited to start travel nursing but unsure how to maintain access to mental health treatment? I was ecstatic when I accepted my first travel nursing job, but little did I know the choice would soon cause me to lose access to my beloved therapist of 3+ years. This sent my mental health spiraling. Travel nurses can avoid my same predicament with a little planning ahead. Here are some ways travel nurses can maintain access to mental health treatment while on assignment.
Ask Your Current Therapist About Telehealth
Since the COVID-19 pandemic, many practitioners have started offering telehealth to clients. If you have a therapist now, depending on the state they are licensed in, they may or may not be able to practice across state lines (for example, if they are in New York and you accept an assignment in Georgia). It is important to ask your therapist if a move will impact their ability to work with you. Many will make exceptions if you tell them your move away is not permanent.
Avoid Gaps in Your Insurance Coverage
Another big reason travel nurses lose access to mental health care is when their insurance status changes. This is a broad topic, and there is no “right” choice for any travel nurse when it comes to choosing insurance coverage. No matter what, keep your mental health coverage needs in mind when deciding. If you decide to use your agency’s insurance, beware of gaps in coverage between assignments. You can also ask your therapist if they will accept self-pay if they cannot accept your new insurance.
Find Out About Employee Assistance Programs
Many travel nurse agencies realize the huge toll working in healthcare takes on our mental health. Often, agencies will give nurses access to Employee Assistance Programs (or EAPs) that allow nurses between 5-10 free visits with a mental health professional. This can be a huge benefit to nurses who switch agencies and may not always have the same health insurance. EAPs can also help you quickly book an appointment with a new therapist when you move to a new state.
Call Your Health Insurance Company
When you move states, sometimes a quick way to land a new therapist is to call your health insurance company directly and ask if they can help you find a qualified mental health professional. Rather than Googling and searching yourself, concierge services at insurance companies might speed up the process of booking an appointment.
Try an Online Therapist
Online therapy also exploded after the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Many travel nurses use services like BetterHelp, Cerebral, and Talkspace to maintain mental health coverage. Some services accept health insurance, and some only allow self-pay. Know that these services will also ask you what state you are in because many of their therapists are restricted to practicing only with clients in the same state.
Use Prescription Delivery Services
A great way travel nurses can keep up with mental health medications is by using prescription delivery services. Your pharmacy might offer prescription delivery (like my CVS pharmacy did, for example), or those who qualify can try online services like Hers, which allow you to connect with a prescriber and get medications sent to your door.
Remember the Importance of Self Care
While it is crucial to have access to mental health treatment and therapy as a travel nurse, I also cannot underestimate the importance of self-care. Travel nurses can engage in self-care activities such as meditation, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and connecting with a support system.
Travel nursing can lead to a lot of big, exciting changes in your life. That said, you should take steps to ensure that this does not include changes in your mental health routine. You will only love your travel nursing assignment more if you are thriving and at your best mentally.
Every job type differs from the other; one can be less stressful, and the other can be very overwhelming. By not trying to minimize other people’s jobs, we have to be forever grateful for travel nurses worldwide. Working long hours every day and trying to take care of everyone because that is their purpose can be truly immense. They do care for our well-being, but do they care about theirs? If a nurse is not in good condition, that might cause major problems. It is really important for them to stay healthy and on point. Because how are you going to take care of someone if you’re not going to take care of yourself first? Travel nurses who live a healthy lifestyle perform better on the job and are less stressed. It is understandable that this may be hard for them to achieve, but we can try and make some adjustments here and there, and this is how.
You Are What You Eat
No one knows this better than a nurse; however, those long hours can’t promise you’ll practice what you preach. Food has a great impact on a nurse’s life. Sometimes you just grab something from your colleague’s lunch, not because you’re hungry but because they offered. You get overworked with patients; then you suddenly remember you haven’t eaten anything but 5 almonds, an apple, and God knows how many cups of coffee. Developing a healthy meal plan for a 12-hour shift or, in the best-case scenario, a week will undoubtedly save your health. This meal plan should include a lot of fruits, vegetables, and proteins. Low-calorie diets will keep your body energized and allow you to work more efficiently. Those who consume junk food during their shifts tend to perform with less energy.
Travel nurses tend to drink a lot of energy drinks in order to gain energy and finish their tasks. They might work in the short term, but even they know that in the long term, energy drinks are very unhealthy. While you’re making the meal plan, you might want to throw some cucumber, lemon, and parsley in your blender and make some detox water. Consider switching from energy drinks to detox water. If you forgot or didn’t have enough time to make detox water, stick to just water instead.
Your body needs to be hydrated all the time, especially in the medical profession. Dehydration can lead to serious complications, and with your profession, you can’t afford to get sick. When you don’t drink enough water, even the smallest symptoms can cause an issue. For example, with a headache, it might be difficult for you to focus and concentrate, two of the most important things for a nurse. Just pay attention to what kind of water you’re drinking. You probably don’t have the time to go buy a new bottle of water every time, and you don’t want to end up drinking contaminated water. Stick to an RO water filter instead and drink only clean and fresh water.
A job in any kind of medical field is truly overwhelming. It is so overwhelming that people in those professions usually tend to forget about their well-being. Their well-being is actually essential to their job performance because a lot of responsibility is in their hands. And sometimes, this big burden they have with their patient’s well-being and long hours of work can lead to burnout. By creating a meal plan in advance, drinking lots of water, avoiding caffeine, and doing some physical activity whenever you can, will help you have a great job performance. With a healthy body and mind, you will be able to concentrate and focus better, finish your tasks perfectly, and feel more energetic.
Written by: Christine Purviance, BSN, RN, Director of Clinical Services at Medical Edge Recruitment
It has been just over three years since the first case of COVID-19 landed in the United States. Hospital admissions and total cases are trending down, and our lives seem to have returned to normal. Those who were unaffected have their sense of normalcy back—schools are open, mandates are lifted, and travel is unrestricted. A few more seasons and the pandemic will become another chapter in our history books that we will tell our grandchildren about, for most.
Public Perception
Nursing – a job once derived from compassion, caring, and respect quickly turned into a political narrative with false accusations of deceit at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. With so many false truths and accusations across social media, and the world, nurses took the brunt of the emotional attacks. We were accused of killing the same patients that we were so desperately trying to save. We would have given anything to show the public the reality of the crisis we were facing. Some of us were called liars when we tried to tell our loved ones that COVID was real and that we were witnessing death daily. “You signed up for this” were the words spoken to us as COVID penetrated hospitals while we begged for more PPE.
Our Reality
While most of the world dismissed that COVID existed, we were zipping up body bags like it was trending. We felt uncertainty and fear—we feared infecting our children, husbands, sisters, brothers, and parents, and uncertainty if we would get infected ourselves. We learned quickly that death was impending when patients made it to the ICU. Ventilated, sedated, paralyzed, prone. Each patient started to look the same. For what felt like an eternity, we cared for the same patients for weeks and sometimes months as they slowly died alone.
I remember it like it was yesterday; after having three days off, I came back to find that the unit I worked on had lost three-quarters of our critically ill COVID patients. They had all been on our unit for over a month. We had been doing everything we could for them while they fought for their lives, hooked up to endless monitors and life-saving equipment. For weeks, a dozen medications seeped into their veins–pumping their hearts just enough to sustain life, receiving high doses of sedation, continuous pain medications for comfort, and drug-induced paralysis in hopes they could oxygenate better. Nothing helped. It was at that moment when I saw how many patients we had lost despite our best efforts that I realized the devastation COVID-19 would have on so many lives and that we would never be the same.
Our backs had always hurt, but now our souls and hearts hurt, too. With the need for nurses increasing dramatically, hospitals scurried to find anyone who could work. We were overworked and undervalued; many of us felt like we were just another warm body to our employers. A pizza party does not fix the trauma someone experiences when they see hundreds of lives die in their care. Where was the support from our employers during such a traumatic time? Why did so many nurses lose their benefits and PTO? The lack of support we experienced is just scratching the surface of the real impact the pandemic had on nursing. While many of us had turned to travel nursing to earn a fair and decent wage, thousands of us have left patient care for good because we have finally realized our worth. It’s time we share our truth and gives others the real nursing perspective during COVID.
Perspectives from former COVID ICU Nurses
Amanda, RN
“I would not have become a nurse if I knew a global pandemic was in the future,” Amanda, an ER and ICU nurse, says. Amanda has been a nurse for four years and enjoyed her work pre-pandemic. Amanda describes her mental health as good before COVID. She was hardly anxious and really enjoyed being a nurse. Fast forward, Amanda describes how she had to start taking antidepressants during the pandemic, is a very anxious person now, and turned to alcohol a lot during the pandemic. “It was so surreal. It almost felt like we were soldiers going to war to fight this unknown and dangerous virus. I saw so much death and suffering; it was exhausting, overwhelming, and traumatic.” She says that one of the hardest things for her and her colleagues was the skepticism that non-healthcare workers had regarding COVID. “It felt like a slap in the face. We were stacking bodies on top of each other, holding our patients’ hands as they died alone.” Amanda left the bedside three months ago and says it was the best decision she ever made.
Lisa, RN
Lisa, a former ICU local travel ICU nurse, exclusively took care of critically ill COVID patients during the pandemic. “It was surreal, heartbreaking, and one of the most difficult times of my life,” she describes. She isolated herself from her mom, husband, and friends as she “witnessed death several times per day, nearly every day.” Lisa sought help during the pandemic for nightmares and intrusive thoughts from a therapist who provided coping mechanisms like self-regulation techniques, journaling, meditation, and self-compassion. Lisa says, “my mental health is definitely not what it was pre-pandemic, but I am much better now, maybe even stronger.” Lisa encourages others to not wait to seek help. She suggests finding a therapist, a self-help book, or a resource that works for you. “When your mental health improves, a cloud is lifted…healing begins from within through the practice of self-compassion.” Lisa left the bedside in February of 2021 to pursue higher education.
S.M., RN
S.M., an ICU, OR, and PACU nurse, describes working as a nurse during the pandemic as “crazy!” S.W. had been a nurse for 12 years when the pandemic started. When asked about how she felt about her employer, she states she feels like politics got in the way of patient care. She describes her mental health as good prior to the pandemic, but now she feels that she has more depressive days. After working through the pandemic, S.W. has not considered leaving the bedside and still loves what she does.
Resources and Help
The data and evidence on how COVID impacted the nursing profession, and mental health is limited, likely due to the recency of the pandemic. However, according to arecent survey [AS1] of critical care nursing burnout and mental health during the pandemic, 44% of critical care nurses experienced moderate-to-severe depression and anxiety, and 47% were at risk for having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Of the nurses surveyed, 84% experienced moderate levels of burnout and moral distress. COVID-19 has impacted every nurse across the globe in one way or another.
Many of us are doing well, but some of us are still struggling. If you, or anyone you know, needs mental health support, it is never too late to ask for help. Mental health therapy has never been more accessible and can be done from the comfort of your own home through virtual appointments. Below is a list of mental health services available for anyone:
Employee Assistance Program (EAP): These programs often offer a set number of complimentary counseling or mental health services. Check with your health insurance to see if your benefits include an EAP.
Moving Forward
The realization of our value after the pandemic has shifted nurses’ attitudes across the nation. From travel nursing for adequate pay to remote nursing jobs with less liability, thousands of nurses have left their role, left nursing altogether, or pursued higher education. The future of nursing is uncertain, given the evolving impact of the pandemic, but we hope that sharing our reality and experiences can open the minds of those who weren’t in our shoes. The need for nurses is great, but the need to support and retain our existing nurses is greater.
References
Guttormson JL, Calkins K, McAndrew N, Fitzgerald J, Losurdo H, Loonsfoot D. Critical Care Nurse Burnout, Moral Distress, and Mental Health During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A United States Survey. Heart Lung. 2022 Sep-Oct;55:127-133. doi: 10.1016/j.hrtlng.2022.04.015. Epub 2022 Apr 29. PMID: 35561589; PMCID: PMC9050623.
The need for nurses is at an all-time high. During the past few years, nurses have faced extreme challenges, from the pandemic to working long hours and even experiencing violence in the workplace. The impact of those occurrences has been detrimental to the mental health of healthcare workers everywhere. Nurses are the ones who have the most direct involvement with critically ill patients and can be affected the most. Caring for patients day in and day out can be mentally, physically, and emotionally exhausting.
Furthermore, the widespread nursing shortages have exacerbated the stress that many nurses already felt. Often, nurses begin to neglect their own mental health in an effort to save others. Although it is of extreme importance for nurses to practice self-care, nurse well-being cannot be solely the responsibility of the individual nurse. Healthcare organizations must engage in systemic support for nurses. Fortunately, the Ingenovis Health ACT program (Advocacy, Career, Tools) was created as a commitment to improving the well-being and career advancement of clinicians across the Ingenovis Health family of brands, which includes Fastaff Travel Nursing. The ACT program is a unique initiative available to Fastaff travel nurses that provides the necessary tools and resources to grow, flourish, and advance nurses’ careers.
Prioritizing Mental Health – Wellness Resources for Travel Nurses
Healthcare professionals often endure physical and emotional strain. For nurses to adapt to stressors more effectively, it is a must to have some sort of resilience training. Programs that incorporate psychological resilience techniques provide nurses with coping tactics that prevent stress, anxiety, and depression. The ACT webinar series is a part of the Ingenovis Health ACT program, offering free monthly educational and inspirational resources to support our healthcare professionals’ personal growth and career development. Healthcare professionals can access the webinar playlist at any time. It can be simply used as a guide to help improve nurses’ overall well-being.
Mindfulness
It is of extreme importance to practice mindfulness in high-stress professions such as nursing. According to Mayo Clinic, incorporating meditation into your lifestyle can give you a sense of calm, peace, and balance that can benefit both your emotional well-being and your overall health.
Some emotional and physical benefits of meditation include:
There are several ways to meditate, including yoga, mindful meditation, transcendental meditation, and Tai Chi. Fastaff offers Yoga sessions to its travel nurses with a certified instructor through YogaFit. Taking advantage of yoga sessions can help nurses reinvigorate the mind, body, and soul.
Taking advantage of available resources
Working for an employer that appreciates you can improve mental health and job satisfaction. One of the ways Fastaff shows appreciation is through its discount and rewards program, which offers an extensive list of discounts on brands in different categories. Other resource programs offer free telehealth therapy sessions and in-person access to behavioral health professionals and substance abuse counselors. Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) offer professional assistance with personal, family, financial, and work struggles, often at no cost to the employee. The Fastaff Employee Assistance Program offers confidential telephone consultations and counseling sessions for issues including stress, depression, and family and relationship concerns.
Additional Fastaff EAP resources include:
Information and referrals on family matters, such as child and elder care, pet care, vacation planning, moving, car buying, college planning, and more
Legal information and referrals for family law, estate planning, and consumer and civil law
Financial guidance on household budgeting and short- and long-term planning
Prioritizing mental health should always be top of mind. We hope you found these resources for prioritizing mental health to be beneficial. If there are any, we missed comment below.
