A new study found alarmingly high levels of stress, depression and anxiety among nurses even before the coronavirus pandemic started.
Researchers said this can lead to medical errors.
In a new study from The Ohio State University’s College of Nursing, critical care nurses nationwide reported very high levels of stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms.
“When clinicians get burned out, they exhibit symptoms of irritability, anger, anxiety,” said Bernadette Melnyk, chief wellness officer at The Ohio State University.
She told KCBS Radio that the burnout also manifests in more troubling ways.
“You also have real sadness, depression, withdrawal and some disengagement,” Melnyk said.
She noted that all of this has been exacerbated by the pandemic and has shone a light on suicide levels among nurses and other clinicians.
Obviously, Melnyk said, it also impacts patients.
“If a clinician is burned out, depressed, it’s going to interfere with concentration,” she said. “It’s going to interfere with judgement and their functioning, and that will impact healthcare quality and safety.”
She said hospitals need to change everything from scheduling to support services for nurses.
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