Long before the COVID-19 pandemic swept the planet, nursing was already well-known for being an incredibly stressful career. Burnout has long been a significant problem. And it has only gotten worse as nurses have been forced to work on the frontlines fighting a health crisis that is unlike anything that anyone alive today has ever experienced. With stress placing an even more tremendous strain on nurses during this pandemic, hospitals and healthcare organizations are coming up with new and unique ways to support the mental health of their most vital employees.
From loosening up dress codes and allowing workers to wear fun mens’ print scrub tops instead of plain ones to building so-called “recharge” rooms for employees, hospitals are working to make nursing a bit less stressful and create environments where healthcare workers can decompress while on the clock. Keep reading to discover a few of the many unique ways hospitals can show support for nurses.
Making Comfort a Priority
What a nurse wears to work can have a considerable impact on their overall comfort, and being comfortable can lower stress levels. When nurses are free to choose scrubs that are comfortable, fit well, and match their preferences and interests, it eliminates the stress of being uncomfortable all day or wearing the “right” outfit.
Many hospitals are breaking away from strict dress codes. While most still require nurses to wear scrubs, many have dropped restrictions regarding colors and patterns. Nurses who are free to wear printed tops, comfortable and stylish scrub dresses, and other fashion-forward options often feel better about going to work.
Creating Recharge Rooms
Mount Sinai Health System in New York City designed recharge rooms where nurses and other healthcare workers can unwind when they need a break. Based on research on the link between stress-reduction and natural environments, these rooms provide multi-sensory experiences that lower stress levels in just 15 minutes. The science behind these rooms is quite remarkable and, for the healthcare workers at Mount Sinai, they make a huge difference.
Stony Brook Medicine took a similar approach when creating its destressing area known as “Resilience at the Brook.” While this space isn’t quite as jam-packed with calming technology as Mount Sinai’s recharge rooms, it does feature soothing art, plants, and a pod for private meditation. Relaxing materials — including miniature Zen gardens and adult coloring books — are available, as well. And workers can share inspiring quotes and encouraging messages on the Motivation Mural Wall.
Many other healthcare systems and hospitals have implemented similar areas where nurses and other employees can spend a few moments during their shift when they need a break. Even some smaller hospitals have converted unused space into relaxing areas for their workers.
Destressing with the Help of Animals
Workers at the Ohio State University Medical Center get to destress with the help of therapy dogs. Buckeye Paws is a therapy dog program that assists healthcare staff and students within the medical center’s Stress, Trauma and Resilience (STAR) Program. Ohio State launched the initiative in March of 2020 specifically to help healthcare workers and students manage stress by providing comfort and emotional support. Certified by the Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD), the canines of Buckeye Paws give stressed-out nurses a much-needed boost.
Implementing Code Lavender
Code Lavender was started in 2008 by Earl Bakken at North Hawaii Community Hospital. Calling out the code lets the team know that a healthcare worker requires urgent psychological assistance. In the 13 years since Bakken created the code, many healthcare organizations — including the Cleveland Clinic — have implemented their own Code Lavender programs.
Most Code Lavender teams are comprised of representatives from the organization’s healing services and spiritual care teams. Volunteers and other hospital-based support services, including wellness, ethics, and employee assistance, may be involved, too.
At Bayhealth in Delaware, employees can destress with the help of Code Lavender kits. Upon request, a kit containing things like aromatherapy inhalers, LED candles, a sound machine, and a back massager is set up in the department where the request originated. The organization has seen a significant uptick in Code Lavender kit requests in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and has purchased kits for each department to keep up with the demand.
Assisting with Childcare Solutions
In March 2020, school closures affected more than 42 million students and left countless parents scrambling to find childcare. With schools closed, nurses and other healthcare providers needed someone to take care of their kids while they were at work. In response, many healthcare systems have started providing on-site childcare services or offering stipends to help offset the cost of outside childcare. In doing so, they keep affected parents from having to choose between caring for the kids and caring for patients.
While many districts are returning to in-person learning for the 2021-2022 school year, keeping these initiatives in place is vital. The pandemic is far from over, and little is known about what the upcoming cold and flu season will hold. Maintaining programs that help parents with childcare ensures that nurses will know where to turn if schools close again or they choose to keep their kids home to protect them from the virus.
The Bottom Line
Burnout is a common problem that plagues nurses even during normal times. Amid a pandemic, it is even more prevalent. Fortunately, hospitals and healthcare organizations are taking steps to mitigate stress and help nurses care for their mental and emotional health.
Showing support for nurses is important, and it’s something that any healthcare organization can do. It doesn’t take a multi-million-dollar budget to host the occasional staff lunch or provide a quiet space for healthcare staff to decompress on difficult days. If you are involved with such an organization, the ideas listed above are just a few of the many unique ways your hospital can show support for nurses and help them manage their mental health during this difficult time.
