Live virtual training will help nurses who are suffering traumatic effects from working on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic.
A free live webinar addressing the risk of suicide among nurses will offer ways to overcome burnout and improve quality of life to nurses, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, nurse educators, and other healthcare professionals.
Preventing Nurse Suicide: The Real Ramifications of the Pandemic is scheduled for Thursday, June 17 from 10-11:30 a.m. CST. It is being offered by PESI, a nonprofit provider of continuing education in the fields of healthcare and mental health.
Suicide risk is significantly higher in the nursing population. Female nurses are roughly twice as likely to die by suicide than the general female population and 70% more likely than female physicians, according to a University of Michigan study that examined suicide among physicians and nurses.
Data for the study was gathered before the COVID-19 pandemic, which means those numbers likely are even higher now.
Though nurses have been hailed as heroes during the COVID-19 pandemic, they have endured overwhelming trauma, grief, and challenges, and though more hospitals are returning closer to normalcy, that doesn't mean the traumatic events have eased from their memories, says Stephanie L. Bunch, RN, MSN, ANP-C, PMHNP-C, who will be conducting the seminar.
"Maybe the difficult moments just keep replaying," she says. "You know something must change but you don’t know how to get started healing."
"The struggle of nurse suicide and burnout is real, and quite underplayed. Many nurses are struggling with mental health, but they're not talking about it," Bunch said in a press release. "If they do decide to share, they're reminded to 'practice self-care'—which is great—but many feel as though their struggles aren't being heard, and at this point self-care alone isn't enough."
The unresolved emotions can feel exhaustive, leaving many nurses feeling emotionally and physically drained, searching for answers that go well beyond self-care, she said.
"If we fail to recognize these feelings, they can lead to depression, anxiety, fatigue, somatic symptoms, and even nurse suicide," Bunch said.
The webinar will examine common risk factors, burnout/compassion fatigue, and trauma experienced from the pandemic, while providing strategies for solutions, such as showing nurses how to use their voice to address workplace concerns and how to initiate change on their unit.
Register for the webinar here. Registrants will be eligible to earn up to 1.5 ANCC-approved CE hours at no cost.
Those who can't attend the live webinar should register anyway, and they will have access to the video recording afterward to watch at a convenient time.
“Many nurses are struggling with mental health, but they're not talking about it. If they do decide to share, they're reminded to 'practice self-care'—which is great—but many feel as though their struggles aren't being heard, and at this point self-care alone isn't enough.”
Stephanie L. Bunch, RN, MSN, ANP-C, PMHNP-C
Carol Davis is the Nursing Editor at HealthLeaders, an HCPro brand.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
Nurses have endured overwhelming trauma, grief, and challenges, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Female nurses are roughly twice as likely to die by suicide than the general female population.
A free live webinar on June 17 offering CE hours will address the risk of suicide among nurses and offer ways to overcome burnout and improve quality of life.