Global Nursing Workforce Faces Mental Health Crisis Post-Pandemic

A comprehensive study has revealed that nurses around the globe are grappling with significant mental health challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. This research, published in the International Nursing Review, highlights the profound impact of three years of demanding working conditions on the nursing profession.

Lead researcher and nursing professor at New York University, Allison Squires, emphasizes that the study sheds light on the compounded stressors faced by nurses in their workplaces, which often spill over into their personal lives. The emotional toll of the pandemic is further complicated by personal losses, with approximately one-third of the nursing workforce potentially experiencing ongoing grief.

While previous studies have documented high levels of stress and burnout among nurses, most of these investigations have focused on high-income countries. To fill this knowledge gap, Squires established the Global Consortium of Nursing and Midwifery Studies, which now encompasses healthcare professionals from 82 countries, dedicated to exploring the long-term repercussions of the pandemic on the nursing workforce.

The recent survey involved 9,387 nurses from 35 countries, conducted between July 2022 and October 2023. Participants were questioned about their mental health, including issues like burnout, public aggression, access to mental health services, and self-care practices. The findings unveiled alarming rates of anxiety and depression among nurses, ranging from 23% to 61% across different regions.

Work-related mental health symptoms were notably higher than those experienced at home, with 57% of respondents reporting fatigue, 44% experiencing anxiety, and 41% feeling overwhelmed. Variability in mental health issues across countries suggests that cultural factors and societal stigma surrounding mental illness play significant roles. For example, while 69.9% of nurses in Brazil reported anxiety related to their work, only 23.8% of nurses in Indonesia felt the same. Furthermore, 80.9% of nurses in Turkey reported feeling overwhelmed at work, contrasting sharply with just 6.7% in Thailand.

Beyond mental health, the study found that nurses faced significant personal losses during the pandemic, with 20% reporting the death of a family member, 35% losing a friend, and 34% mourning a coworker. The researchers stress that the impact of these losses on the mental health of nurses is substantial and should not be underestimated.

Moreover, violence and aggression from the public emerged as critical issues, with nearly half (48%) of the surveyed nurses reporting such experiences due to their professional identity. This alarming statistic highlights a pressing safety concern for healthcare workers globally.

Despite the evident need for mental health support, only 24% of nurses indicated that their employers provided sufficient mental health services. Consequently, many nurses have turned to self-care methods, including exercise and spiritual practices, to cope with the adverse mental health effects experienced during the pandemic. The increased focus on self-care suggests that nurses may have sought these activities as a means to manage the pressures of their demanding roles.

Researchers advocate for enhanced mental health services tailored for nurses and a reevaluation of clinical work environments to improve psychological safety for healthcare professionals. The study's findings indicate that many nurses are seeking to transition to less stressful roles, relocating for better working conditions, or exiting the profession altogether, which raises concerns about the sustainability of healthcare systems worldwide.

The International Council of Nurses (ICN) has echoed these concerns, noting that the high levels of stress and burnout reported by nurses could contribute to an exacerbation of the existing global nursing shortage, particularly as the workforce ages. To address these issues, the ICN calls for government investments in nursing, improved working conditions, and competitive salaries to retain existing nurses and attract new talent to the profession. Evidence suggests that investing in nursing not only saves money but also strengthens economies and saves lives.