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This month Kelly and Greg shared articles about burnout in oncology nurses. The first article looks at whether demographics or setting plays a bigger role in burnout.
The second article looked at the effects of massage chair sessions on ambulatory cancer center nurses based on their perceived stress, BP, and HR.Thanks for participating in the discussion this month. Remember to introduce yourself when you post. Also, don’t forget to review the requirements for successful completion of this journal club.
A Comparison of Burnout Among Oncology Nurses Working in Adult and Pediatric Inpatient and Outpatient Settings
Massage Chair SessionsGood Morning, my name is Kelly and I work in our outpatient float pool. I had picked these articles because I just felt like the topic was relevant right now 🙂
1. I learned about the factors that can attribute to burnout among the nursing population. I found it interesting that age and gender were both brought up but then both kind of shoved aside as there are studies that show support for both sides of the spectrum with those factors. Except, they did weigh age into the equation when taking into account the outpatient burnout was higher, but the population of those outpatient nurses were older.
The factor that spoke to me the most is the lack of control can lead to burnout. I think we have all experienced a feeling of lack of control during this pandemic being asked to do things that may be out of our comfort zone. Wondering what factors spoke the most to others that read this article?
2. One way these are going to influence my practice was the second article. I just finished setting up massage chair sessions for our group on 2/17. After reading the positive effects massage had on the nurses that participated in the program, I figured this would be something worth pursuing.
3. The first article mentions how relationships with coworkers was one of two most commonly used coping strategies to deal with burnout. This did raise the question for me of, working in ambulatory JCRU, it isn’t quite as easy to have those close work relationships since we don’t have a home base. Are there steps we could take to make it easier to lean and rely on each other for debriefing or coping? Or maybe this isn’t something that needs addressed?
What was the knowledge gained from the article?
I found these articles were interesting. I know the first article was centered in Idaho- I’ve never been to Idaho but from what I’ve heard it isn’t the busiest area (and they also referred that it was such a small sample size it couldn’t be generalized to the entire US). I know with that being said they will have cancer patients and other variables as well. I also know that every unit is a different kind of busy. The common ground we all face is being asked to do more with less resources all whilst staying in the budget. I found it especially interesting that outpatient faced more burnout risk than inpatient. Talking to most people here there would disagree with that statement that even the worst day outpatient is better than inpatient.Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so how?
As healthcare professions we often are bad at taking care of ourselves. I have been trying to implement more time for self awareness activities and having a divide between work and home life balance. I have been trying to get other family members to do this more regularly as well. Taking our allocated vacation time is essential even if we don’t go anywhere but a staycation can be in fact better.What other questions does the article raise about current practice?
I have numerous questions regarding burnout. I would like to know what hospitals or other companies are doing to help with burnout and preventing it? It seems like it’s the opposite where staffing is an issue on top of other variables. We as nurses are resilient but at what point do we each break. I know the sample size was small but it makes me wonder if demographics have something more to play with burnout?Thanks for hosting Kelly!
What was the knowledge gained from the article?
The knowledge I gained from this artical is how important self care routines are when dealing with burnout. I found it interesting that post chair massage sessions staff reported at 43% reduction in stress levels. This is a significant reduction in stress and with that large of a number I am surprised our facility isn’t doing more to help prevent burnout. Also, I was shocked that burnout was more common in the outpatient setting but when thinking about it that makes a lot of sense. Outpatient nurses spend a large amount of time with patients through out their whole oncology journy. They follow up on scheduling and work with the primary oncologiest to help corrdinate the patient’s care. I can see where burnout results.Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so how?
Nursing has been emotionally exhausting for me over the past few years. This artical points out the importance of self care and gives me more encouragement to prioritize it. At this time I am doing more meditation, journaling, and self awareness excerises. I also took a plunge and radomly book a retreat for myself that involves my hobbies. I realize if I am not well I am not as great of a mother, coworker and nurse.What other questions does the article raise about current practice?
My question is if burnout is very common especially in the outpatient setting, why isn’t our organization doing more? I remember tea for the soul and mental health nurses rounding while in patient. Seems like I don’t see this as much in the outpatient setting. Maybe I am too new to realize the resources?Renee- I also wonder what other hospitals are doing to prevent burnout. I also find it really interesting that many of my nursing friends who are burned out leave and travel. To me this seems like more work, exhausting, and not addressing the real mental fatigue they share they are experiencing. Does more money help compensate burnout? It is an interesting time for nursing and the future of where our profession goes from here I think is still to be determined. In the meantime I’m going to start by being honest with myself and treating myself better.
Thank you for these articles Kelly, I found them very interesting!
Knowledge gained, I was happy to see the correlation being studied between massage and decrease in blood pressure.
It makes sense since massage would decrease stress that it would decrease blood pressure so I am glad that someone thought of studying it. Work place massage is one of those nice things that would make staff feel valued by the organization which could prevent turn over in addition to decreasing blood pressure and stress.What other questions does this article raise? It did not surprise me that this Idaho facility is a magnet organization. Having worked more than a decade at a non magnet hospital system it is so nice to see how much more willing magnet facilities are to invest in nursing and staff. I would like to see a study of the cost of massages vs. the cost of attrition though. Turn over of one nurse would cost an organization more money than it would cost to renovate one room with a massage chair in it. Chair massages are also nice but have to be staffed where this relaxation room would be a good place for staff to go to de-stress.
Would the information in this article change my practice? For me these articles have made me think about work stress causing burnout and what can be done about it. I think massages are great but there are other options that can reduce work place stress. Zen rooms with softer lighting, pretty colors, plants and soft music could help reduce stress that causes burnout. It wouldn’t take much for an organization to transform some space to offer something like this for staff.
Melissa, I agree about transforming a room for people to escape to, or maybe even eat lunch in. I actually do think OSU offers like yoga sessions outside in the summer time (or at least they used to), the problem being, finding the time to actually attend events like that during the day. Pt care is really hard to step away from, especially when staffing is tight.
Katie, that is an interesting point about several people leaving for traveling. I would think for short term more money at least makes it seem more tolerable right, more justifiable. But, in all reality, I agree with you, if you aren’t addressing the root of the problem, it will probably rear it’s ugly head again.
Kelly/ Katie- As someone who previously did traveling I can confirm that the money and change of scenery helped but definitely gave clearer realization that I was done with the emergency department. I know often those travel assignments pay so well but often have other issues such as unsafe practices or doing things outside the scope of practice which leads to other concerns among nurses.
Kelly- I agree with you. When seeing those program offerings for yoga or other wellness/mindfulness options they clearly don’t take bedside or chairside nurses schedule into account. It would be great to be able to get away for 30 or 45 minutes to do yoga or other activities during the workday but with resources already stretched thin it’s not possible in the slightest.
Hello, Its Kasey from outpatient JCRU. Wow is this topic ever relevant right now!! Thanks for hosting Kelly!
What was the knowledge gained from the article?
In the article Massage Chair session I was not surprised to see the data, as I think we know that reducing stress, and providing a healthy work escape, even for short periods, will have a positive effect on blood pressure, heart rate and overall wellbeing. I was impressed by the organization, in the fact they really put a lot of time and effort into providing their employees with reminders and opportunities to take advantage of TCP. That in its self provides reassurance to your work force that you care about their health and wellbeing. Although this seemed to be a small organization, as the article mentioned the staff being 100 RNs and APPs. The turn out by the staff, taking advantage of the TCP opportunity was impressive.
Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so how?
I have never made the time and effort for myself to participate in any offered chair massage sessions or respite rooms. I realize this could significantly positively effect my mental and physical wellbeing at work. I need more self care in and out of work. It has such a beneficial effect on my mental health.
What other questions does the article raise about current practice?
It makes me wonder what our organization is doing currently? It seems like all the offered resources have gone away in a time we need it most? There may be offerings that I am unaware of.
Kelly- Thank you for organizing chair massages for our unit. I know I will take advantage if my schedule allows. I can say that pre-covid JCRU did have quarterly outings outside of work. I really enjoyed these, and look forward to a time where we can partake in activities like this again. It really helped make our unit feel more cohesive. I know there are some of our coworkers that I have never even worked with or spoken to. Makes us feel to big and out of touch at times.
Mellisa-You spoke about Zen rooms. OSU had respite rooms at one time. I never visited but I would guess they were comparable to a Zen room. I would also encourage aromatherapy to be more readily available.
Kelly thank you for hosting this journal club.
What was the knowledge gained from the article?
I learned the long term negative affects of burnout on the individual nurse. Nurses can have chronic fatigue, anger, feelings of helplessness and physical symptoms such as headaches, gastrointestinal problems, insomnia and depression (Davis,et, al). I disagreed with Davis when it was stated the most devastating impacts of burnout is its association with nurses leaving the profession. I don’t know about you guys but if my profession is interfering with my quality of life I may need to change my work environment.
I agree with the second article about massages in that they saw significant reductions in perceived stress, systolic and diastolic BP and HR.
Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so how?
Any opportunity I get to participate in stress reducing activities at work I’m going to take advantage of them. I also will continue to focus on mindfulness, journaling, and exercising on a daily basis.
What other questions does the article raise about current practice?
what are the burnout levels since the pandemic?
Do nurses have PTSD from the pandemic?
How many nurses take a two 15 minute break and a 30 minute lunch?
I was told by a OSU ER nurse that she was told by management due to the nursing shortage there would be no coverage for her to take a vacation this summer?
How do we encourage people to enter the nursing profession when the working conditions are this poor?
Do nurses feel undervalued by their employer after the pandemic?WHAT is the hospitals going to do to help improve the emotional wellbeing of their employees? Ensuring safe patient to nurse ratios which would allow for nurses to take adequate breaks.
Thank you Kelly for hosting these articles.
What was the knowledge gained from the article?
From the article about massage chairs, I totally agree they have a significant reduction in stress. Which in turn decreases your BP & HR. But how long will a 20 minute chair massage hold you? I remember when the insurance use to cover massages throughout the year. It was nice to be able to schedule a massage once a month.
From the article about burnout, I am really feeling it right now. It’s not just short staffing. It’s also the pandemic, patient acuity is higher and sometimes I feel my hands are even more tied in the ambulatory setting to help relieve my patients pain.Will the research/information in this article change or influence your practice? If so how?
I believe the burnout article will help me take action in my mental well being as a nurse. I have at least a good 10 years left in this occupation and as much as I love my patients and people I work with I am not sure that my body and mind can hold up that long. With burnout, I have noticed that my back pain is more prevalent. We all need to learn self care & stick to it. I am going to start looking into different options for stress reducing activities & self care.What other questions does the article raise about current practice?
I’d like to know the same things Gabel.164 questions. What does it do to us that we comfort someone during their death and then are expected to take another patient within hours of losing that patient?Do you agree/disagree with the conclusions of the author, why? I agree with both of these articles’ conclusions.
Katie, I wonder the same thing about traveling. It’s not always about the money & money doesn’t make you happier (all the time). I have had several friends travel nurse & have had stories that make my stomach turn. I can see my “strong personality” not doing so well when patient’s safety or well being is at hand.
Gabel.164 You bring up some very good follow up questions. I personally don’t usually take a 15 minute break during the day & depending on the clinic I am in, my lunch is long enough for me to put something in my stomach so my other team players can also get a lunch. I do believe the nurses, that have remained, at OSU do feel undervalued. I saw an article about nurses asking for more pay for all the different types of jobs we do. It states a doctor, a lawyer, and therapists can charge you $100’s of dollars an hour for their service but we ask for a more compensation and we are “selfish and unrealistic”. Even though nurses have been the #1 trusted profession for a long time.
Kelly, thank you for organizing chair massages for our team. I agree with you that this pandemic has us out of our comfort zone & not feeling in control of our life. I agree that ambulatory JCRU needs a “safe” place to go & talk with each other. We all know when your spouse isn’t medical that having a medical support group means so much.
Kelly you pointed out that relationships with coworkers can be used as a strategy to cope with burnout. During the last two years that’s one thing I’ve held onto is the support I receive from my coworkers. This is one of the best group of nurses I’ve worked with in my career.
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