Caring for the Caregiver: Mental Health Resources for Nurses
As nurses, we’re trained to recognize distress in others—but how often do we pause long enough to check in with ourselves?
Whether you're at the bedside, navigating complex discharges as a case manager, or balancing shift work with family life, nursing is a high-stakes, emotionally demanding profession. At AdventureRx, we believe wellness extends beyond physical health. Supporting nurses means talking about the mental load, emotional fatigue, and burnout that too often go unspoken.
Disclaimer: This post is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended as medical or psychiatric advice. If you are experiencing a mental health crisis or medical emergency, please call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
The Weight We Carry
From critical decisions in the ICU to advocating for patients in chaotic emergency departments, we carry stories, grief, and pressure long after the shift ends. Many of us take that weight home—especially when the line between personal and professional life is blurred.
One of the reasons I became a nurse was because I believed I could clock out and go home—physically and emotionally. But the reality? The pager might be off, but the heart stays on call. The weight of the day lingers in our minds long after we hang up the stethoscope.
According to a 2022 survey by the American Nurses Foundation, 84% of nurses reported feeling stressed, 75% reported feeling overwhelmed, and 52% experienced burnout (American Nurses Foundation, 2022). Alarmingly, a 2020 study found that one in four nurses had symptoms of depression, and almost 30% reported signs of anxiety(Søvold et al., 2021).
Why Burnout Happens: Root Causes in Nursing
Nursing burnout doesn’t come from a lack of compassion—it stems from a systemic mismatch between demands and resources. Here are some key contributors:
High Turnover and Short Staffing
When nurses leave, the remaining staff absorb heavier workloads, which leads to a cycle of exhaustion and further attrition. According to Smiley et al. (2023), over 100,000 nurses left the workforce in 2021, citing burnout and stress as major reasons.Emotional and Ethical Burden
Nurses often carry the emotional weight of patients and families while being expected to suppress their own emotions. Moral distress—especially when institutional policies conflict with what’s best for a patient—adds another layer of psychological strain.Excessive Responsibility Without Autonomy
Nurses juggle patient care, documentation, coordination, and advocacy—but often have limited control over schedules, staffing decisions, or care planning.Workplace Violence and Disrespect
Physical and verbal assaults, especially in emergency and behavioral health settings, take a toll on mental health. Nurses are also frequently undervalued or dismissed by peers, providers, or leadership.Shift Work and Circadian Disruption
Rotating or overnight shifts wreak havoc on sleep cycles, hormone regulation, and family dynamics—leading to both mental and physical fatigue.
Common Mental Health Challenges Nurses Face:
Compassion fatigue and burnout
Moral distress when patient care conflicts with systemic limitations
Depression and anxiety from chronic exposure to suffering or trauma
Sleep disruption due to shift work or on-call schedules
Isolation and disconnection from peer support systems
Move Your Body, Boost Your Brain: The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise
While therapy and peer support are vital tools, one of the most accessible and evidence-based strategies for improving mental health is also the simplest: physical movement.
Regular exercise has been shown to:
Increase dopamine and serotonin levels, enhancing mood and emotional regulation
Trigger endorphin release, creating a natural sense of calm and euphoria (“runner’s high”)
Reduce cortisol, the stress hormone that contributes to anxiety and burnout
Improve sleep quality and reduce insomnia
Boost self-esteem through accomplishment and body awareness
Even short bursts of physical activity—like walking during your break, stretching before a shift, or doing 10 minutes of yoga—can deliver measurable mental health benefits.
A meta-analysis published in JAMA Psychiatry found that physical activity was associated with a 26% decrease in odds of developing depression (Schuch et al., 2018). Movement isn’t just medicine—it’s preventive care for your brain.
💡 Try this: Take a brisk 15-minute walk outside after a shift, leave your phone in your pocket, and tune into your senses—how the air feels, the sound of your steps, the colors around you. You’re not escaping; you’re recalibrating.
You’re Not Alone: Resources That Can Help
Here are nurse-specific mental health resources to support emotional well-being and promote resilience:
1. The Nurse Suicide Prevention & Resilience Program
Offered through the American Nurses Association, this program includes tools for recognizing red flags, building resilience, and accessing crisis help.
🔗 nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nurse-suicide-prevention
2. National Academy of Medicine (NAM) – Clinician Well-Being Collaborative
Offers strategies, webinars, and toolkits for health systems and individual clinicians to reduce burnout.
🔗 nam.edu/ClinicianWellBeing
3. ANA Enterprise – Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation
A movement to improve nurses’ health in five key areas: physical activity, nutrition, rest, quality of life, and safety.
🔗 healthynursehealthynation.org
4. Project Parachute
Free, confidential therapy by licensed clinicians for healthcare workers during times of crisis (availability may vary).
🔗 project-parachute.org
5. VITAL WorkLife – Nurse Peer Coaching
Confidential peer coaching sessions and well-being tools tailored for healthcare professionals.
🔗 vitalworklife.com
6. Code Lavender Programs
Institutional programs offering emotional first aid, debriefings, and holistic support post-crisis events. Some hospitals now have these available 24/7 internally.
7. Low-Cost & Virtual Therapy Options
Therapy Aid Coalition: Free or low-cost therapy for healthcare workers.
BetterHelp and Talkspace: Virtual therapy accessible during off-hours.
8. Apps to Support Your Mental Health
Headspace for Healthcare: Free for nurses at participating systems.
Insight Timer, Calm, MyStrength: Mindfulness and emotional tracking.
9. Emergency & Crisis Lines
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 anytime.
NAMI Helpline: 1-800-950-NAMI (peer-to-peer mental health guidance).
Crisis Text Line: Text “HOME” to 741741 for 24/7 support.
Self-Advocacy Is Part of the Job
As nurses, we advocate for safe discharges, appropriate care, and support services every day. That advocacy must extend inward. Taking a mental health day, seeking therapy, or setting boundaries isn’t weakness—it’s sustainability.
The National Council of State Boards of Nursing reported that about 100,000 nurses left the profession in 2021, citing stress, burnout, and mental health concerns (Smiley et al., 2023). We can’t afford to keep ignoring these numbers—or each other.
Let’s Normalize the Conversation
At AdventureRx, we’re more than our roles in healthcare. We’re parents, partners, adventurers, and people deserving of wellness. Mental health isn’t just a May topic—it’s a daily commitment.
References (APA 7th Edition)
American Nurses Foundation. (2022). Pulse on the Nation's Nurses Survey Series: Mental Health and Wellness.
Schuch, F. B., Vancampfort, D., Firth, J., Rosenbaum, S., Ward, P. B., Silva, E. S., Hallgren, M., Ponce de Leon, A., Dunn, A. L., Deslandes, A. C., Fleck, M. P., Carvalho, A. F., & Stubbs, B. (2018). Physical activity and incident depression: A meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies. American Journal of Psychiatry, 175(7), 631–648.
Smiley, R. A., Ruttinger, C., Oliveira, C. M., Hudson, L. R., & Gorman, S. K. (2023). The 2022 National Nursing Workforce Survey. Journal of Nursing Regulation, 14(1), S1–S90.
Søvold, L. E., Naslund, J. A., Kousoulis, A. A., Saxena, S., Qoronfleh, M. W., Grobler, C., & Münter, L. (2021). Prioritizing the mental health and well-being of healthcare workers: An urgent global public health priority. Frontiers in Public Health, 9, 679397.
