Burnout: chronic work-related stress

Stress is a natural part of life, but it doesn’t necessarily lead to burnout. Burnout is a state of physical or mental collapse caused by work-related stress.

While stress is situational, burnout is usually caused by repeated or prolonged stress.

Higher levels in nursing and midwifery

Compared to other health professionals, nurses and midwives are disproportionately impacted by burnout due to the nature of our work. We experience time pressures, lack of control over work tasks, shift work, lack of support and repeated exposure to traumatic events.

In 2021 the Australian Primary Nurses Association annual survey found: 42% said they experience burnout sometimes, 27% said they felt burnt out very often, and 10% said they always feel burnt out at work.

Signs and symptoms

Let’s look at how it can present in ourselves and our colleagues:

constant exhaustion
social withdrawal
cynicism
loss of enthusiasm or even a sense of panic
dread or anxious about going to work
compassion fatigue or lack of empathy for patients.

You may notice changes in your sleep patterns and appetite, as well as frequent headaches, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, muscle tension, low immunity, and a higher incidence of illness.

More worrying health concerns include increased blood pressure, palpitations, increased shortness of breath and gastrointestinal upset.

An indicator that you are experiencing burnout may be that you are taking more sick leave or have become withdrawn at work.

Your family, friends and colleagues may notice changes in yourself before you do. Be open to their concerns. Reflect on whether you’re feeling different or some of your behaviours have changed.

Factors that increase our risk of burning out

Who we are and how we cope can make us more vulnerable to burnout. We may be more susceptible if we:

feel overly critical of ourselves
expect a lot (perfectionist)
overcommit
struggle to balance work and life
lack of personal support systems
sleep poorly

It can happen to anyone at any level of the system and is not a personal failure.

When I experienced burnout as a result of my work, I didn’t have the language to describe what I was feeling. I just knew that I wasn’t OK.

Martin, RN

Preventing burnout

Burnout is an occupational issue. Employers and managers must commit to delivering safe, healthy and caring workplaces. There are, however, some things you can do to protect yourself:

reach out for support
rest and take regular leave
stay connected with people
set boundaries and learn how to say ‘no’
set realistic expectations, focus on your achievements, not what you didn’t do
be kind to yourself – in the same way you are kind to others
move your body – find something you enjoy and do it regularly
reflect - on your work, your life, and the balance
engage in regular clinical supervision - read more

It’s important to remember that burnout is both preventable and curable. The earlier you seek support, the better the outcome for you. Use our self health check to see how your really doing.

If you think you may be experiencing burnout, consider accessing some support – reach out to us.