The NP burnout problem is a tricky one to navigate. This profession offers attractive benefits and has become one of the fastest-growing career fields with NP jobs being expected to grow by 45% within the next ten years. However, all that glitters is not gold. A report from Medscape in 2024 found that 70% of NPs are feeling either burned out, depressed, or both.
In a field where the goal is to protect the health of patients, NPs may feel the need to always be “on” to ensure they are offering the best care possible. While this may be helpful in the short term, this can easily bring about burnout and the compassion fatigue that can come with it.
With so many NPs in the profession and many more to come, it is crucial for NPs to allow themselves the opportunity to take a step back from their demanding jobs and recharge.
The Power of Saying No
While working as an NP, some may feel the pressure to always be available to help out, whether it’s taking on additional shifts to cover for colleagues or spearheading new initiatives to further support patient care. The responsibilities can be overwhelming, and sometimes, you have to let yourself say “no.” However, doing so without feeling guilt afterward is easier said than done.
As an NP, you need to acknowledge that you cannot do it all. No one person can. Additionally, the most helpful NP is one that is well-rested as they have the most physical, mental, and emotional energy to improve patient care and support their teams. When you say “no” to taking on extra responsibilities, you’re not saying, “No, I don’t want to help.” You’re saying, “No, I’m protecting my own health so that I can continue to provide the best care for my patients.”
Digital Detoxing
Now that everything seems to be digital, it can be even harder to unplug with work. This is especially the case when notifications are coming through on your personal phone. It can be incredibly difficult to put aside work obligations when requests for communication are constantly coming in after office hours.
Unplugging from work requires an intention to prioritize boundaries and communicate them to your team. Helpful boundaries can include only checking emails during work hours or only allowing urgent calls to be accepted by the on-call provider. The out-of-office auto-response is also a helpful tool for managing expectations around communication.
It’s also crucial to have rules for how you approach digital distractions at home. One option is to set a digital curfew, which can involve having a set time when you don’t check notifications anymore. Another strategy is to have a designated time without screens, such as meals or right before bed. This can allow for more time to participate in hobbies like exercise or reading, which can further support mental health and mitigate burnout.
How to Communicate Your Boundaries
Preventing burnout won’t work without boundaries, but those boundaries need to be communicated in a productive manner. To ensure all team members are on the same page, it is best to have these conversations as early as possible. This can include letting colleagues know that you don’t check notifications after a certain time or that you are available for extra shits but cannot work last minute.
The type of language also affects how your message is interpreted. Instead of saying, “I can’t because I’m too overwhelmed,” that statement can be worded more professionally: “I am currently at capacity and cannot take on additional tasks.”
Saying “no” can also open the door for additional solutions. For example, maybe you can’t accept a last-minute shift, but you are able to swap days with another employee.
As long as you stay true to your boundaries, there are always alternate solutions that will ensure your team is supported and your patients are receiving quality care.
