It’s often said that healthcare is a calling, not just a career. The individuals who answer that call are some of the most compassionate and resilient among us, tending to the sick, comforting the vulnerable, and saving lives in moments of crisis. But what happens when those who give so much are left running on empty?
Picture this: a nurse finishes her third double shift of the week, emotionally drained from juggling a never-ending stream of patients. A doctor pulls another all-nighter, haunted by decisions that weigh heavily on their shoulders. A technician contemplates leaving the field altogether, overwhelmed by stress that no one seems to notice.
This is the reality for many healthcare workers today, a profession meant to heal has left them needing healing themselves. In fact, the American Hospital Association reports that 93% of medical professionals are incredibly stressed and overwhelmed due to their job.
“Taking the time to understand how your employees are feeling is something healthcare leaders should be focusing more on.. The frontline employees are taking on the majority of the patient care, many times biting off more than they can chew. This causes stress and anxiety, and can make them feel frustrated in the workplace if their needs are not being met,” shares DoorSpace Co-Founder Brian White.
There is no longer any dispute on whether healthcare workers are struggling: They are. The real question is what healthcare leaders are willing to do about it. If we fail to care for the caregivers, the very foundation of our healthcare system will crumble.
When healthcare workers are stretched too thin, the ripple effects are undeniable. Patient care suffers, morale plummets, and turnover skyrockets. These challenges are not abstract, they’re happening every day in hospitals, clinics, and care facilities across the country.
Burnout is frequently seen as this buzzword; a term thrown around lightly to insinuate professionals are simply “tired.” In reality, it is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion brought on by prolonged stress. For healthcare workers, this often stems from grueling hours, understaffing, and the weight of constant life-and-death decisions. The pandemic only exacerbated these issues, leaving many workers feeling undervalued and overwhelmed.
For the industry as a whole, burnout has disastrous consequences. When talented individuals leave the field, it creates gaps that are increasingly difficult to fill. Recruitment and training for new hires take time and resources, and continuity of care suffers in the interim.
Caring for healthcare workers doesn’t mean making grand gestures or instituting superficial programs. It starts with meaningful, everyday actions that show employees they’re valued and supported. Start with things such as open communication, recognition and appreciation, and manageable workloads.
“Being a leader means being a leader for everyone, especially your employees. Taking a little time out of your day to form relationships with them and getting to know them as individuals can go a long way. This can help fill gaps in the workplace that would otherwise lead to turnover or burnout,” continues White.
Healthcare workers are the backbone of the system. They show up every day to care for others, often at great personal cost. It’s only fair – and frankly, essential – that healthcare leaders do the same for them. In an industry dedicated to healing, caring for caregivers isn’t just good leadership, it’s a moral responsibility. It’s time for healthcare leaders to treat their workforce with the same empathy and attention they expect their teams to show patients. The future of healthcare relies on such a change.