The nursing shortage has become a crisis of epidemic proportion now more than ever due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Nurses have become overworked, under paid, and less appreciated. Nurses are leaving the profession due to burnout and harsh working conditions. If these circumstances are not addressed, unfortunately, the nursing shortage will worsen and have a major impact on patient health outcomes.

Evidence has shown that by offering compressed schedules, that this can lead to increased morale in the work environment and positive patient outcomes. Employers who offer nurses the ability to set their own schedule should eventually see improvement in job satisfaction and retention rates.

Nurses are continuously on the go and rarely sit down due to the ever-changing demands that are placed on them. Nurses can maintain and sustain, but sometimes need a break before burnout ensues. Research show that offering employees the choice of alternative work schedules that this led to higher levels of work-family balance. Compressed and alternative   schedules have resulted in improved productivity and job satisfaction.  In turn, this has decreased turnover rates, less call outs, decreased commuting expenses, and work-related stress. Compressed schedules have proven beneficial to employers by saving money, increasing efficiency, and overall improvement in work-life balance of their employees.

To improve nursing retention rates, employers should analyze the reasons that nurses leave their jobs. Nurses are expected to provide patient care in an environment that often lacks supervisor and peer support. There is an increasing demand for longer work hours that result in an increase in physical and psychological stress. Giving employees control over their schedule, can lead to improved sleep, less turnover, and improved work outcomes notably within the first year of employment.

In conclusion, the nursing profession has been heralded one of the most trusted of all professions. Compressed schedules can lead to job satisfaction and decrease burnout in nurses. There are less call outs when nurses are given the opportunity to work alternative schedules. These schedules are effective for nurses who have other competing priorities such as trying to maintain a work-life balance. Offering alternative work schedules can have a significant impact on the nursing shortage by improving retention rates and decreasing burnout in the nursing profession.

Self-Care Daily Tips During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Ellen Kaufman, MSN, RN, HNB-BC 

Mary Costello, BSN, RN, HNB-BC

VA Boston Healthcare System

NOVA Chapter 226

Ellen Kaufman    Mary Costello

Ellen Kaufman and Mary Costello are NOVA Members who work at the VA Boston Healthcare System. Ellen serves as the Restorative Care Coordinator and Mary is a RN Case Manager in Primary Care. They are also the Co-Chairs of the Holistic Committee and are board certified Holistic Nurses. The Holistic Committee feels passionately that caring for ourselves is key to being able to care for others so they have been sending out daily emails during the COVID-19 pandemic. Holistic practices such as mindfulness along with proper nutrition, rest, and physical activity help us to destress and function at our greatest potential. 

Here’s an example of a Self-Care Daily Tip. 

Today’s self-care tip is a meditation called Metta Meditation or Loving Kindness meditation.   

In Buddha teachings, it can mean cultivating benevolence for self and others which is what we do as healthcare providers/in our service to Veterans. It is a nice meditation to recite when getting up to begin your day or before bed at night and is fitting for today’s environment. 

Make sure you are in a comfortable position and focus on your breath. Take a breath between each phrase.

Begin by directing your compassion towards yourself:

May I be safe,

May I be healthy,

May I be at peace

Then begin directing your compassion outward:

Think of a person who you love or mean a lot to you

May you be safe

May you be healthy

May you be at peace

Think of someone who poses a challenge to you, do not cause yourself

to become stressed but send these phrases with compassion:

May you be safe,

May you be healthy

May you be at peace,

Think about your family and friends and send your compassion out to them:

May you all be safe

May you all be healthy

May you all be at peace

Send compassion out to the people we encounter at our workplace

– Veterans, our peers, and their families:

May you all be safe

May you all be healthy

May you all be at peace

Then send compassion out to all living things:

May all living things be safe

May all living things be healthy

May all living things be at peace.

Finally, bring this back to yourself –

May I be safe,

May I be healthy,

May I be at peace

Holistic Committee