Strategies For Mental Health Nurses To Foster Self-Care and Prevent Burnout
Kago, Davis (2024)
2024
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024121636178
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2024121636178
Tiivistelmä
Background: Psychiatric nursing is a demanding and strenuous career that exposes nurses to differ-ent emotional, physical and cognitive challenges with burnout prevalence being high in psychiatric nursing. The mental health of these nurses is important both for them and for the patients under their care.
Aim: This study aimed to explore self-care strategies for mental health nurses to prevent burnout, foster resilience and professional well-being.
Methods: Data research was conducted as a systematic review from Cinahl, Medline and PubMed data bases. The review was limited to journal articles written in the period of 2000 and 2024 de-liberating on resilience and other interventions for fostering self-care among mental health profes-sionals.
Results: Two large categories of interventions were noted in the course of the review: (1) Resilience building and (2) Support Structures. Resilience-building involves mindfulness and contemplative practices, coping strategies and professional boundaries. These strategies allow nurses to cope with work-stressors and help them remain emotionally, mentally and professionally stable amidst work challenges. Support structures on the other hand allow for continuous learning and skill enhance-ment while both peer and organizational support enhance collegial collaboration, communication, sense of belonging and mutual support preventing burnout and improving job satisfaction.
Conclusion: A holistic approach incorporating individual self-care practices, organizational support, and professional development opportunities is crucial for maintaining the mental health of mental health nurses. Healthcare institutions have to foster appropriate organizational culture, offer men-tal health services, as well as enhance the elimination prejudicial attitudes towards the nurses that would contribute to the improved conditions for the nurse workforce and, thereby, enhance quality of care delivery for patients.
Aim: This study aimed to explore self-care strategies for mental health nurses to prevent burnout, foster resilience and professional well-being.
Methods: Data research was conducted as a systematic review from Cinahl, Medline and PubMed data bases. The review was limited to journal articles written in the period of 2000 and 2024 de-liberating on resilience and other interventions for fostering self-care among mental health profes-sionals.
Results: Two large categories of interventions were noted in the course of the review: (1) Resilience building and (2) Support Structures. Resilience-building involves mindfulness and contemplative practices, coping strategies and professional boundaries. These strategies allow nurses to cope with work-stressors and help them remain emotionally, mentally and professionally stable amidst work challenges. Support structures on the other hand allow for continuous learning and skill enhance-ment while both peer and organizational support enhance collegial collaboration, communication, sense of belonging and mutual support preventing burnout and improving job satisfaction.
Conclusion: A holistic approach incorporating individual self-care practices, organizational support, and professional development opportunities is crucial for maintaining the mental health of mental health nurses. Healthcare institutions have to foster appropriate organizational culture, offer men-tal health services, as well as enhance the elimination prejudicial attitudes towards the nurses that would contribute to the improved conditions for the nurse workforce and, thereby, enhance quality of care delivery for patients.