Mental Overload in Nursing Work: Caring for Caregivers

Technology Prioritizing Patient and Nursing Professional Well-Being

Nursing is a profession that requires technical, emotional, and cognitive skills, placing professionals in direct contact with patients in different health situations. However, one of the most challenging issues faced by nursing staff is mental overload. In this article, we will explore the main factors that contribute to this overload and discuss the importance of taking care of the mental health of nursing professionals.

Causes of mental overload in nursing:

1. Heavy workload: Nursing professionals often face a heavy workload, with high demands and pressure to meet deadlines and ensure quality care for patients. The accumulation of tasks and the feeling of never being able to complete everything can lead to a state of mental overload.
2. Emotionally challenging situations: Nursing involves caring for patients in different states of health, including emergencies, pain, suffering, and loss.
3. Complex decision-making: Nurses are often faced with the need to make rapid and complex decisions that directly affect the lives and well-being of patients. This responsibility can generate stress and mental overload, especially when decisions must be made under pressure and in adverse conditions.
4. Lack of adequate support and resources: A lack of resources, such as sufficient staff, adequate equipment, and emotional support, can contribute to mental overload in nursing. When professionals find themselves dealing with challenges without the necessary resources, mental pressure increases.

Why Neonpass Room was created

1. Reduce workload: The first reason raised is precisely the workload. We know that around 60% of patient requests should not go through nursing, and this is the first point that Neonpass Room promotes that impacts a nursing team's shift, saving up to 7 minutes per request that we avoid.
2. Reduce the patient's feeling of isolation: Dealing with these situations can be emotionally draining and have an impact on the mental health of nursing professionals, which is why Neonpass Room created an interface that allows patients to communicate more openly with nursing staff at all times, updating their feelings, level of pain, preferences, all in real time, reducing the gap that contributes to emotional exhaustion.
3. Making complex decisions simple: Patients are no longer dependent on a single button to call the nurse. Now, the nurses receive exactly what each patient needs via Neonpass Room. This way, the nursing station can receive several qualified calls and prioritize the most serious ones to attend to first. Complex decisions become simpler and more assertive.
4. Being the missing resource: Some hospitals suffer from a lack of equipment, others from a lack of human resources. Neonpass Room is the solution to help reduce or eliminate team overload.

Importance of taking care of the mental health of nursing professionals:

1. Personal well-being: Taking care of your mental health is essential to the personal well-being of nursing professionals. By managing mental overload appropriately, they can reduce stress, promote work-life balance, and maintain a good quality of life.
2. Quality of care: The mental health of nursing professionals has a direct impact on the quality of care provided to patients. When nurses are mentally exhausted, their ability to make assertive decisions, provide safe care, and maintain effective communication can be compromised.
3. Retaining skilled professionals: Caring for the mental health of nursing professionals is essential to retaining talent in the field. By creating a healthy and supportive work environment, healthcare institutions can prevent burnout and burnout, encouraging nurses to stay in the profession and contribute their experience and knowledge.
4. Fostering a culture of self-care: By addressing mental overload in nursing, it is possible to foster a culture of self-care, where professionals are encouraged to seek support, set boundaries, and adopt healthy practices for mental well-being. This creates a more resilient and positive work environment.

Mental overload is a reality faced by nursing staff due to the challenging nature of the profession. It is essential that healthcare institutions recognize and address this issue by providing appropriate solutions. Caring for the mental health of nursing professionals not only benefits their quality of life, but also contributes to the quality of care provided to patients and the long-term sustainability of the profession. It is a collective responsibility to foster a healthy and supportive work environment where nursing professionals can care for others while caring for themselves.