According to ongoing studies by the American Nurses Association, nursing satisfaction surveys continue to indicate that nursing caregivers are feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and underappreciated. The effects of burnout , studies conclude, are broad, with consequences not only for the individual personally and professionally but also for patient care and outcomes.

“There’s a common reason nurses experience burnout at a rate significantly higher than other occupations,” says NYU College of Nursing Faculty member Dr. Madeline Naegle, APRN-BC, PhD, FAAN. “They are consistently exposed to human suffering and the experience of pain and really have few opportunities to talk to the health care providers about their feelings.”

According to Dr. Naegle, there are some tell-tale signs that nurses should watch for that indicate a problem may exist. “Feelings of being overwhelmed, out of control, depressed, overly-fatigued, consistently feel tired can signal possible burnout,” she reports. “Feeling disconnected from what they do, like a robot just going through the motions of nursing.”

There is help. Dr. Naegle encourages her nursing students to foster a heightened sense of self-awareness and to monitor their bodies to know when stress is becoming an issue. “Knowing what your hot-buttons are – that’s very important. Also, it is vital that nurses maintain a good exercise and sleep regimen and eat well. If a spiritual life is something that’s important to them, we encourage they do things to nurture that.”

More than anything else, she says, setting proper boundaries is of utmost importance. “Empathizing with patients as they suffer can be very draining unless you understand how to set a boundary your feelings and emotions – what belongs to you – and what belongs to the patient.