Between making a substantial difference in others’ lives and having the opportunity for multiple specialties, it’s no wonder registered nurses consistently report being satisfied—even “extremely” satisfied—with their occupation.¹ However, as rewarding of a profession as it may be, nurses also face health issues of their own. Namely, they face mental health conditions that may undermine that very job satisfaction and impact every major domain of their lives.²

Fortunately, this hasn’t gone unnoticed. In the wake of the pandemic, which brought the burdens all types of nurses bear to the surface and exposed the toll their work may have, the healthcare industry has begun prioritizing nursing mental health.

Even better, nurses now have access to several mental health resources aimed at nurturing their psychological wellness. Here’s how you can protect your own—and benefit from the support available.

Start Your Nursing Journey

The Mental Health Challenges Nurses Face

From assisting loved ones in navigating difficult news to handling overwhelming caseloads, nurses frequently encounter emotionally triggering circumstances that may affect their quality of life and job performance.

This is reflected in recent data. Surveys and studies indicate that the primary mental health challenges nurses struggle with come down to:^3,4

• Compassion fatigue
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Extreme stress
• Trauma and/or Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Substance abuse
• Suicidal ideations

What unites these mental health challenges is the high rate of burnout widely felt among those in the nursing practice.

Burnout is not technically characterized as a mental health condition. The World Health Organization classifies it as an “occupational phenomenon” that’s typically accompanied by fatigue, cynicism, negativity, feelings of helplessness, and cognitive distance from one’s profession. That said, experts suggest it can give rise to mental health challenges for healthcare professionals.⁵

The upside? Help is readily accessible.

Stress Management Techniques for Nurses

Nurses’ occupational stress comes from many areas: nursing shortages, unmanageable patient loads, and unsupportive environments, to name a few. Nurses assert that mitigating the stress healthcare professionals face entails long-term institutional changes such as more flexible scheduling, wellness stipends, and stronger internal support.

And yet, at the individual layer, you can also take your mental health care into your own hands by practicing smart stress-busting strategies like:⁶

• Engaging in mindful movements, such as yoga or Tai Chi
• Expressing your thoughts and emotions with a trusted colleague or a mental health professional
• Adopting a nutritious diet that supports immune health, curbs cortisol levels, and bolsters energy⁷
• Obtaining sufficient sleep, hydration, and exercise
• Pursuing a hobby
• Breaking for a power nap
• Connecting with your friends and family

All of these tactics may decrease stress, enhance your mood, and encourage improved overall health—a necessity for the emotional labor and physical tasks required of the profession.

The Importance of Support Systems for Nurses

Mental health challenges are compounded by the notion that many nurses feel that they, as clinicians, will be ostracized or not given the support they need if they confess their inner struggles. This is understandable. Historically, medical workers have been stigmatized for having mental health issues, in part because of the pressure to come across as “heroes.”⁸

This, coupled with the surge in nurse mental health issues, underscores the importance of crafting a personal and professional support system through:

• Working with a nursing mentor 
• Reaching out for peer support
• Discussing your challenges with your manager
• Maintaining personal relationships
• Joining trauma-informed group sessions⁹

Start Your Nursing Journey

Building Resilience Among Nursing Professionals

While you may be in a position to pursue a new place of employment, some of the psychological stressors of nursing—such as giving a patient a tough diagnosis or dealing with challenging patients—are unavoidable, even with good work-life balance for nurses.

To that end, it is vital to not only practice nurse self-care but also to actively work toward building resilience as a healthcare worker. In addition to seeking support from your colleagues and loved ones, consider:¹⁰

• Mindfulness training
• Reframing negative thoughts
• Practicing self-reflection, self-compassion, and acceptance
• Celebrating your achievements
• Identifying stressors and developing healthy coping mechanisms

And some good news: A landmark study found that experience has an enormous influence on resilience. So trust that, with time, you may grow stronger and stronger.¹¹

Resources and Programs Supporting Nurses’ Mental Health

Luckily, resources and programs designed to nourish nurses’ mental health abound, including:¹²

• For the Front Lines, a crisis counseling program for healthcare professionals
• Safe Call Now, a crisis referral service for first responders
• Therapy Aid Coalition, a low-cost mental health service program for medical workers
• Happy, an app endorsed by the American Nurses Association that provides access to mental health services
• Osmosis Nursing Resilience Course, a free, self-paced resilience course (that also works toward your continuing education (CE) credits)

Feel Empowered at Alliant International University 

Mental health challenges in nursing are not novel issues, but they skyrocketed during the pandemic and have not substantially abated. And yet, this increase has also paved the way for more honest conversations about nursing mental health and its helpful resources.

Alliant International University knows that building resilience starts with education. Our bachelor's of science in nursing and nursing master's programs supply aspiring and established nurses with the tools they need to succeed in the healthcare industry, including recognizing the warning signs of mental health challenges and how to handle them.

Explore our nursing programs to start your nursing career feeling confident and supported. Apply today.

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Sources: 

1. Munday, Rebecca. “16 Reasons to Choose a Career in Nursing.” NurseJournal, February 22, 2024. http://nursejournal.org/articles/reasons-to-choose-a-career-in-nursing/. Accessed March 20, 2024. 
2. Bowie, Danielle. “The Health Care Industry’s LAX Approach to Nurses’ Mental Health Needs to Change.” STAT, August 29, 2022. http://www.statnews.com/2022/07/21/health-care-industry-lax-approach-n…. Accessed March 20, 2024. 
3. “The State of Mental Health in Nursing in 2022: Trusted Health - Trusted Health.” RSS, June 20, 2022. http://www.trustedhealth.com/blog/the-state-of-mental-health-in-nursin…. Accessed March 20, 2024.
4. Handzel, Sarah. “Supporting Nurses with Substance Use and Mental Health Issues.” Wolters Kluwer, March 22, 2022. http://www.wolterskluwer.com/en/expert-insights/supporting-nurses-with…. Accessed March 20, 2024.
5. “Burn-out an ‘Occupational Phenomenon’: International Classification of Diseases.” World Health Organization, May 28, 2019. http://www.who.int/news/item/28-05-2019-burn-out-an-occupational-pheno…. Accessed March 20, 2024.
6. Morris, Gayle. “How to Manage Stress as a Nurse.” NurseJournal, September 19, 2023. http://nursejournal.org/articles/how-to-manage-stress/. Accessed March 20, 2024.
7. “Stress and Health.” The Nutrition Source, February 2, 2023. http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/stress-and-health/. Accessed March 20, 2024.
8. Gold, Jessica. “It Is Time to Stop Stigmatizing Mental Health among Healthcare Workers.” Forbes, July 13, 2020. http://www.forbes.com/sites/jessicagold/2020/07/13/it-is-time-to-stop-…. Accessed March 20, 2024.
9. “Health Systems Are Implementing Creative Strategies to Support Nurses’ Mental Health and Well-Being-More Still Needs to Be Done.” Discover Nursing, October 24, 2023. http://nursing.jnj.com/nursing-news-events/nurses-leading-innovation/h…. Accessed March 20, 2024.
10. Watt, Windy. “How Nurses Can Develop Resilience.” GoodRx, October 12, 2021. http://www.goodrx.com/hcp/providers/resilience-in-nursing. Accessed March 20, 2024.