Creating a culture of well-being and providing mental healthcare for nursing home staff is a powerful tool for not only helping residents but attracting and retaining employees, the National Academy of Medicine said in its National Plan for Health Workforce Well-Being released in October.
The vision is that long-term care residents and others will be cared for by a workforce thriving in an environment that fosters their well-being as they improve population health, enhance the care experience, reduce costs and advance health equity.
In the US, 54% of nurses and physicians had symptoms of burnout before the pandemic, according to NAM data. A Mental Health America survey of 1,119 healthcare workers in the pandemic’s first year found 82% of respondents reported emotional exhaustion and 68% physical exhaustion. Nearly half of nurses said they had too little emotional support.
“Collective action is urgently needed to prevent a dissolution of the health professions and to ensure a strong and interconnected health system for the nation,” the report said. “Health workers have been operating in a survival state for a long time, but change is possible.”
From the December 2022 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
