By Leslie Kelly, April 20, 2020, Nursing Careers.
Leading during a crisis requires strength, perseverance and calm. The COVID-19 pandemic created a demand on healthcare professionals that led to nurse burnout, feelings of conflict, guilt and overwhelming stress and anxiety.
As a nurse leader, increased stress comes from caring for your staff, patient care and administrative concerns. A discussion about recognizing and responding to nurse burnout and secondary traumatic stress must first begin with the leader being aware of his or her own burnout and stress.
All caregivers also can benefit from evaluating and addressing their own nurse burnout before thinking of others. Besides caring for themselves, leaders can be role models by acknowledging and addressing their well-being during the response.
Nurse well-being during the COVID-19 response begins with addressing the basic needs of the workforce. Similar to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, one cannot begin to address psychosocial concerns until basic logistical needs have been met.
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