How to Avoid Burnout in a Challenging Environment
By: American Nurses Association – Article shared
While correctional nursing comes with a unique work environment and patient roster, it also comes with additional stressors and issues that can lead to compassion fatigue, corrections fatigue, or burnout.
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue occurs when nurses continuously tap into their empathetic emotions on a constant, and regular basis – so much so that these feelings begin to feel depleted. Especially nurses working in a correctional facility may be exposed to the suffering of others so frequently that this depletion of their feelings of compassion may occur. This can be harmful in that it can affect their overall sense of happiness, and strain a caring nature that they may typically exhibit.
Corrections Fatigue
Similar to compassion fatigue, corrections fatigue comes to play when nurses are routinely exposed to a stressful, depressing or negative environment. This can slowly impact their feelings of happiness, wellbeing and can build up feelings of stress, anxiety, depression or even pose a threat to their mental health.
Burnout
Burnout is defined as a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Some signs that someone may be suffering from burnout include:
- Difficulty relaxing
- Prolonged irritability
- Persistent anxiety
- Sleep problems
How to Prevent Burnout & Fatigue
It’s important for correctional nurses to continue the following preventative and restorative measures to reduce or keep from experiencing burnout.
- Build a support system: When nurses are starting to experience stress, one of their first reactions may be to pull away from others. It is important to keep friends, family and colleagues involved in their lives. Talking and spending time together regularly can help to reduce stress and put their challenges in a positive perspective.
- Practice mindfulness: Nurses should treat themselves similar to how they treat patients and always be asking questions and aware of the responses. Activities such as journaling, meditation and exercise may help to calm and ease a troubled mind.
- Find non-work-related activities: It’s important that the mind has a chance to break away from the same structure of the work environment from time to time. Correctional nurses should look for activities such as a club, organization, or sport to do that will keep them active outside of their workplace.
- Look for signs of problems – and get help: If a correctional nurse is doing appropriate self checks they should know the signs that burnout is getting close. If a nurse, or their friends, family or coworkers recognize that their friend is close to burnout, there are support systems and resources that can help. Start by encouraging a visit to a medical professional to determine if any measures should be taken to prevent larger problems such as depression, panic attacks or substance abuse.
While burnout may sound like a small, almost mundane problem, unfortunately it can lead to far more serious problems, so it’s important to keep an eye out, and take preventative measures. All the issues that Correctional Nurses face are outlined, explored, and advised upon in our Scope and Standards, Correctional Nursing 3rd Edition, now available here. An invaluable resource, don’t miss it! Correctional nurses especially, understand that this work environment is one that can lead to a higher chance of burnout – stay vigilant!
Categories: Career Advice
How to Avoid Burnout in a Challenging Environment
By: American Nurses Association – Article shared
While correctional nursing comes with a unique work environment and patient roster, it also comes with additional stressors and issues that can lead to compassion fatigue, corrections fatigue, or burnout.
Compassion Fatigue
Compassion fatigue occurs when nurses continuously tap into their empathetic emotions on a constant, and regular basis – so much so that these feelings begin to feel depleted. Especially nurses working in a correctional facility may be exposed to the suffering of others so frequently that this depletion of their feelings of compassion may occur. This can be harmful in that it can affect their overall sense of happiness, and strain a caring nature that they may typically exhibit.
Corrections Fatigue
Similar to compassion fatigue, corrections fatigue comes to play when nurses are routinely exposed to a stressful, depressing or negative environment. This can slowly impact their feelings of happiness, wellbeing and can build up feelings of stress, anxiety, depression or even pose a threat to their mental health.
Burnout
Burnout is defined as a state of emotional, physical and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Some signs that someone may be suffering from burnout include:
- Difficulty relaxing
- Prolonged irritability
- Persistent anxiety
- Sleep problems
How to Prevent Burnout & Fatigue
It’s important for correctional nurses to continue the following preventative and restorative measures to reduce or keep from experiencing burnout.
- Build a support system: When nurses are starting to experience stress, one of their first reactions may be to pull away from others. It is important to keep friends, family and colleagues involved in their lives. Talking and spending time together regularly can help to reduce stress and put their challenges in a positive perspective.
- Practice mindfulness: Nurses should treat themselves similar to how they treat patients and always be asking questions and aware of the responses. Activities such as journaling, meditation and exercise may help to calm and ease a troubled mind.
- Find non-work-related activities: It’s important that the mind has a chance to break away from the same structure of the work environment from time to time. Correctional nurses should look for activities such as a club, organization, or sport to do that will keep them active outside of their workplace.
- Look for signs of problems – and get help: If a correctional nurse is doing appropriate self checks they should know the signs that burnout is getting close. If a nurse, or their friends, family or coworkers recognize that their friend is close to burnout, there are support systems and resources that can help. Start by encouraging a visit to a medical professional to determine if any measures should be taken to prevent larger problems such as depression, panic attacks or substance abuse.
While burnout may sound like a small, almost mundane problem, unfortunately it can lead to far more serious problems, so it’s important to keep an eye out, and take preventative measures. All the issues that Correctional Nurses face are outlined, explored, and advised upon in our Scope and Standards, Correctional Nursing 3rd Edition, now available here. An invaluable resource, don’t miss it! Correctional nurses especially, understand that this work environment is one that can lead to a higher chance of burnout – stay vigilant!
5 Nursing Trends Heading into 2025
In an ever changing career its important to know what may be coming your way. Here's 5 things to look for in theNew Year! The…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
SUMNER COLLEGE STUDENT OF THE MONTH | DECEMBER 2024
Congratulations Kymra for being the December 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Congratulations on your accomplishment!…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Continuing Your Education with a BSN
Many individuals enter the nursing profession driven by a desire to help others. As they gain experience, many seek to advance their careers to provide…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from Sumner College! We are grateful to all of our students for entrusting us with taking their nursing dreams to reality.…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Upcoming Info Sessions
Looking for some more information on our programs? Join us for an info session! Our upcoming info sessions are all at 11am, November 26, December…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Why Become a Nurse?
A career in nursing offers one of the most exciting, rewarding, and dynamic paths in the healthcare field. With over 4 million registered nurses in…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Welcome New Class Start November 18!
Happy first day, and welcome, to our newest class starting today, November 18! Thank you for choosing Sumner College to continue your educational career! Dream…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
What Are Clinicals?
If you have been researching nursing schools, you may have seen the word "Clinicals" before but not known what they are. Clinicals are a safe…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Student of the Month | November 2024
Congratulations Olga for being the November 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Olga was inspired to join Sumner College's nursing school after hearing about…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Student of the Month | October 2024
Congratulations Benjamin for being the October 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Benjamin is a compassionate nursing student who learned about Sumner College through…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Thank you, Veterans
Sumner College thanks and values our veterans on this honorable day. If you or someone you know has an interest in continuing education, please see…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing in the 21st Century
21st Century nursing is the glue that holds a patient’s health care journey together. Across the entire patient experience, and wherever there is someone in…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Paying for Nursing School- Scholarships
Sumner College understands that every student’s financial situation is unique. Our financial aid department can provide you with more information about Oregon financial aid options…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
How to Prepare for Nursing School
Nursing school can be intimidating, but here are some helpful tips for you to make the most of your time and studies. As always, feel…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Bend, Oregon, Our New Home!
In a recent article with the Bend Bulletin, our School President Joanna Russell shared how we are enrolling for February 24, 2025 at our newest…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
RN to BSN – Career Upgrade!
Here at Sumner College we offer a program for current Registered Nurses, to further their education in a flexible schooling style and get a Bachelors…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Niche Award!
Exciting news! Sumner Nursing College was recently ranked by Niche, listed as #1 in Best Value Colleges in Oregon, #1 in Best Value Colleges in…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Check Out Our New Campus!
Welcome to our new campus in Bend, Oregon! We are excited to be welcoming the first BSN cohort February 24th, 2025. Stay tuned as we…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Upcoming Info Sessions
On the fence or have questions about starting your education at Sumner College? Check out our upcoming BSN Info Sessions! Available for on-campus in Portland…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
All About TEAS
If you're considering enrolling at Sumner College (or other nursing schools!) you will be required to take the TEAS Exam. This stands for Test of…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Nursing School Study Tips
Nursing school is known to be extremely difficult, but there are ways to make it easier on yourself! NursingWorld.org suggests a few different things to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
$5,000 Education Award Available!
Exciting news! DiversityNursing.com is offering a $5,000 education award, with easy entry and no essays, why not enter for a chance to win $5,000 to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
New Member Bend Chamber of Commerce
Sumner College is proud to share we are new members of the Bend Area Chamber of Commerce. Coming soon our official ribbon cutting and social…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Spirit Week!
Happy Spirit Week! Stop by the Lobby or Front Desk throughout the week to say hi and show some school spirit! Monday: Meal Prep and…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Sumner College Student of the Month | September 2024
Congratulations Kristina, for being the September 2024 Student of the Month at Sumner! Kristina completed the LPN program from Sumner College and recently returned to…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Virtual Tour: SIM Lab 202
Welcome to Sumner College! Before you head in to our Portland Campus take a virtual tour where you can see our Simulation Lab, Hospital Simulator,…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
New Campus Alert!
We are extremely excited to announce the opening of our new additional campus location in Bend, Oregon! Conveniently located just around the corner from Bend's…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
The Heart of Healthcare
Nursing can be described as both an art and science; a heart and a mind. At its heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Labor Day Weekend
Happy Labor Day! We will be closed Monday to enjoy a long weekend!…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn
Upcoming Class Start Dates
Join us on one of our upcoming start dates for RN's looking to achieve a BSN completion!…
Share at FacebookShare at TwitterShare at PinterestShare at LinkedIn