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On World Mental Health Day—October 10, 2024—Nursa’s Chief Nurse Executive, Jeannine Raymond RN, MS, met with the Daily Nurse to discuss nurses and mental health. The two are inextricably linked, and according to Raymond, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to mental health challenges in healthcare.
However, Raymond suggests stakeholders can see a “significant ROI” (return on investment) by doing the following:
- Creating community partnerships to remove barriers to work
- Offering self-scheduling and flexibility
- Investing in and adopting resources and support programs
“Giving nurses the room to determine what works for them ultimately leads to nurse retention.” — Jeannine Raymond RN, MS, Nursa Chief Executive Nurse
How to Support Mental Health in Nurses
Raymond points out that compassion fatigue and burnout are mental concepts anyone in any profession can experience. However, not everyone has the added pressure of guaranteeing patient safety while experiencing them.
When the Daily Nurse asked Raymond about resources and supports that would help, she suggested the following:
- Mentorships: Organize peers or preceptors to support new nurses as they orient to a new job or setting instead of making them feel stupid for asking questions.
- Subsidized counseling: Make mental health services affordable for nurses.
- Nurse town halls: Provide routinely scheduled opportunities for nurses’ concerns to be heard.
- Work culture: Foster a work culture that acknowledges mental health challenges and prioritizes self-care.
- Flexibility: Rethink staffing strategies to offer nurses choices that work for them.
Raymond goes on to state:
“If you give clinicians the tools and adaptability to balance work and family life, you’ll have much happier nurses.”
Check out the full interview here for more of her insights on the Daily Nurse.
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