Summary:
The last stretch of the year can cause unnecessary stress and chaos for healthcare professionals. Administrators can implement nurse burnout prevention tools to mitigate some of these effects, such as providing mental health resources, scheduling more time for staff check-ins, and utilizing per diem staffing resources like Medely.
The busy season is in full swing, and with it comes more callouts, an influx of patients, and exhausted full-time staff. Right now, more than ever, it’s important for administrators to implement nurse burnout prevention tools to ensure a smooth experience for their staff.
Thankfully, Medely knows a thing or two about making healthcare workers’ lives easier. Here are Medely-approved prescriptions for common busy season staffing ailments that can wreak havoc on your facility.
1. Don’t overwork full-time staff
With more callouts, patients, and scheduled time off for staff, administrators tend to ask full-time employees to pick up those extra shifts that open up. Reliance on full-time staff might seem like the simple option. They know the facility, have consistent availability, and are easy to reach.
When full-time staff are the only option for filling gaps, though, it creates a slew of problems. Staff might feel obligated to take the shifts, even if they’re feeling burnt out, tired, or in need of a break.
What we prescribe: Keep track of how many hours your full-time employees are working and make sure they’re getting adequate rest. It’s always better to get ahead of a problem before it compounds into a larger issue.
2. Offer meals, snacks, etc. in the break room
Let’s face it, busy season is stressful. More sick patients, fewer full-time staff, and the inevitable drop in mood because of daylight savings (unless you’re one of the lucky facilities in Arizona or Hawaii). This combination of factors can drop morale, so it’s important to find ways to encourage and appreciate staff.
What we prescribe: Take a poll of everyone’s favorite snacks, and then stock the break room with everyone’s favorites. It’s a simple way to show care and appreciation without pushing your budget too far. For administrators who want to put in a little extra effort, consider catering lunch for your staff once a week during busy season. A small gesture like this might not solve burnout, but it can be a small thing to look forward to.
3. Rotate holiday coverage fairly
Building a successful schedule involves planning. Not to mention factoring in approved PTO, the holidays, a steady influx of callouts, and building schedules so employees can spend time with their families during the holiday season.
What we prescribe: Ask your team what holidays they celebrate. Try to build your schedule around the holidays each staff member celebrates to allow the most employees to enjoy time off. When multiple team members observe the same holiday, alternate coverage, or use a yearly sign-up sheet to keep things equitable
4. Schedule more time to check in with your staff
Busy season is prime time for more stress, chaos, and heightened emotions. In order to make sure your staff is at peak performance, both at work and emotionally, it’s critical to carve out time to hear from them.
What we prescribe: Schedule a weekly or bi-weekly team meeting. See how your staff is feeling in general, allow time for grievances, and ask for feedback on how to make the chaos of the busy season easier. Opening up the floor to touch base with your employees can significantly improve workers’ mental health.
5. Use per diem staff for nurse burnout prevention
Supporting your full-time staff and making sure safe patient ratios remain intact is critical. Many facilities don’t have enough consistent staff during busy seasons to keep up with demand.
What we prescribe: Utilize per diem workers. When there are enough full-time staff to satisfy worker-to-patient ratios, administrators can rely on their full-time staff. When more callouts happen, or you notice ratios are stretched thin, administrators can post an open shift on Medely within minutes to our expansive network of nurses and allied health professionals in the area.
6. Share resources for staff mental health
Colder weather, smaller windows of daylight, the holidays, and the chaos of busy season can all culminate and create a drop in your staff’s overall mental health levels. While administrators can’t solve all of those problems, there are ways to help support staff mental health.
What we prescribe: Have resources available in case any of your staff experience a drop in their mental health. Hang up posters with crisis line numbers, take time to ask your staff how they’re feeling, and remind them of available counseling/therapy options. According to a survey from the American Nurses Foundation, “56% of surveyed nurses believe there is stigma attached to mental health challenges.”
7. Prioritize staff breaks
While breaks are important year-round to ensure nurses and health professionals are performing to the best of their ability, it becomes even more important in the middle of busy season.
What we prescribe: When the day starts, make sure you have time carved out for every staff member to take a break. Planning ahead before the chaos starts ensures that it’s a priority, and when breaks are planned and workers are prepared, they’re more likely to take them.
Don’t let this busy season get you down. With these nurse burnout prevention tips for busy season, administrators can continue thriving and creating a positive healthcare environment. Want to learn more about how Medely can help you have a stress-free busy season? Learn more about our network of per diem professionals here.
