The profession of a qualified nurse poses many challenges to those working in the profession every day. Different activities are to be worked on and at the same time some additional burdens are to be taken up. From intensive patient care to writing documentation to taking over shifts from colleagues and overtime – and these are not all tasks that a nurse has to work through. At a time when there is a shortage of specialists in the nursing sector, employees are extremely busy, so there is not much time left for rest and private life. Due to such high physical stress, caregivers often suffer from psychological and physical illnesses, which is also reflected in the fact that care is the front-runner in illness statistics.
Nurses are on sick leave for about 24 days a year, 8 days more than the average of all insured employees in Germany. Mental illnesses alone account for an average of 4.6 days absent – twice as many as employees in all other sectors. The number of hospital days taken up by nursing staff for their own treatment in a clinic is also 55% higher. In addition to physical illnesses, complaints of the active and passive musculoskeletal system and respiratory diseases are other main reasons for the high number of days absent.
One aspect for the frequent sick leave is probably the complexity of the tasks in nursing professions. On the one hand, this is certainly a positive argument for attracting new nursing staff, but on the other hand it is probably the biggest problem zone. In addition to the elementary important patient care, the employees have for some time been taking over additional documentation work on the PC or are filling in for missing employees and the scheduled time for the patients cannot be kept. As a result, shift work is extended and overtime is built up to a large extent. As a result, caregivers lack time for personal rest and family.
Another serious aspect is demographic change. More than one third of the trained staff is around 50 years old and is thus at an age at which people are statistically more susceptible to illness than at a young age. This leads to enormous stress and pressure situations on the ward, as employees have to compensate for these absences in addition to their own obligations.
Most specialists have opted for this profession because they can identify well with it. They want to help people, be in personal contact with them. But this attitude can quickly turn negative. Excessive commitment, striving for perfection in „functioning“ during the shift, low ability to distance oneself from work and a high resignation tendency can quickly lead to burnout or other psychosomatic illnesses.
There is also an increased risk of depression, chronic (back) pain, burnout, sleep deprivation and prolonged exhaustion. In addition, the risk of infection and emotional stress should not be ignored.
But which therapeutic measures are sensible against the aforementioned diagnoses? Chief physicians at the Blieskastel Clinic have developed a concept specifically geared to patients in the nursing field. Among them count:
Individual psychotherapy: This type of treatment involves extensive discussions between a single specialist and a psychotherapist.
Group psychotherapy: The exchange of experiences and problems should lead to strengthening each other and working together on solutions.
Occupational therapy: The implementation of this method of treatment is intended to promote the general ability to act and independence of the nursing staff.
Differentiated analysis of stress: Ethical, psychological, physical, emotional aspects should be given greater consideration.
Renewal of working time models: They should lead to a better work-life balance.
Good teamwork is important to ensure mutual support.
Appreciative communication between doctors and nurses and among each other.
Appreciation of (one’s own) work by the nursing staff themselves, superiors and/or superiors.
Preventive cures are useful in cases of prolonged exhaustion. These are usually outpatient and are largely covered by health insurance. Therapy offers would be:
Physiotherapy
massages
exercise baths
functional back training
gymnastics
Relaxation exercises
Intensive dance therapy: Movements make behavior patterns visible and conflicts in the team of caregivers that cause anxiety and depression are recognized.
The aim is to strengthen and relieve each other.
Background of the therapy is a occupation-specific approach.
The dancing shows the individual space of experience, the events on the ward are reflected.
The focus is on professional problems. Unconscious conflicts and experiences should be dealt with.
Better perception of one’s own needs
Expressing conflicts through dance steps and reflecting afterwards
Thus, there is a multitude of therapy options which can be taken up by nursing staff in case of need. A positive aspect is that the majority of these treatment options are offered on a permanent basis, which is why therapeutic courses and sessions cannot only be attended after diagnosis. They are just as suitable as preventive measures to prevent mental and physical illnesses.
Even on a small scale, offers can be made to support caregivers. For example, with the Cliniserve clinic assistant, who takes some of the stress off the nurses and gives them more time for patient care.
In order to fill existing personnel gaps, it would make sense for the hospital to hire additional service staff to carry out non-nursing activities, such as household activities or procuring materials within a ward.
In addition, training as a nurse should be made more attractive and modern in order to attract young people in particular to this profession, so that the ward has more staff available.
This could reduce overtime and stress at work, and hopefully also the problem of above-average sick leave in the nursing profession.
