Why Nurses Need Mental Health Days?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Mental health days are

one way to ensure nurses take time off to avoid burnout and manage unprecedented stress levels

. Also, having mental health nursing benefits and resources provided by employers validates their stress, gives nurses permission to rest, and shows nurses that their mental well-being is a priority.

How does mental health affect nursing?


A depressed nurse may find it more difficult to concentrate, communicate, manage time, and critically think

–all of these factors are detriments to mental health. They can cause a delay in patient care, medication errors, lapses in nursing judgment, etc. Many nurses also struggle with anxiety.

Should mental health days be a thing?

The goal is not to get out of work; it’s to heal your mind so you can return feeling more relaxed, positive, and ready for a productive day.

Mental health days are necessary for healthy, happy employees and a better workplace overall.

Why do nurses need time off?

Many nurses work 12-hour shifts, evening, or night shifts, and may be on their feet for several hours at a time.

Nurses that work in ICU, oncology, ED, or other high-acuity areas are repeatedly exposed to stressful events

. It is for these reasons nurses need to make time for themselves by taking vacations.

How nurses can promote mental health?

A patient with mental illness may require nurses to adopt the following strategy:

Assess a patient’s mental state. Establish good communication with the patient. Build a relationship with the patient.

Do nurses call out sick?

Sick Call Policies


Most nursing units have policies in place for those nurses that call in sick during a shift

. These policies are almost a type of punishment for calling in sick.

What do you say when calling in sick for nurses?


Tell them you’re a nurse and you don’t want to infect your patients and listen to their advice

. Research your symptoms to see if you’re contagious or not. Call your supervisor, describe your condition, and hear what they have to say. Use your sick days sparingly in case you fall gravely ill in the future.

How do nurses go on vacation?

Usually, travel nurses

sign a 13-week contract anywhere across the United States

. Not only do you get 13 weeks to explore places within the US and outlying territories, but you also get unlimited time off in between your contracts. If you’re feeling burned out, take one, two, or even 10-weeks off between contracts!

Why promoting mental health is important?

Mental health promotion

attempts to encourage and increase protective factors and healthy behaviors that can help prevent the onset of a diagnosable mental disorder and reduce risk factors that can lead to the development of a mental disorder

.

Can I work as a nurse with a cold?

Health experts agree that

nurses should avoid coming to work while sick

, an occurrence that’s been identified as “presenteeism.” Not only does working while sick make you less productive, but it can pose a significant risk to patients and cause illness to spread among colleagues and other hospital staff.

What are believable sick day excuses?


Back pain and injury caused by an accident

were also among the most believable excuses. Interestingly, the report said workers are more likely to lie if they need to take time off for mental health issues compared to physical ailments.

What is check back in nursing?

Say: A check-back is

a closed-loop communication strategy used to verify and validate information exchanged

. This strategy involves the sender initiating a message, the receiver accepting the message and confirming what was communicated, and the sender verifying that the message was received.

Can you call in sick for insomnia?

Can you call in sick for insomnia? If you’re experiencing chronic insomnia and you repeatedly feel unable to work because of sleepiness then

it’s perfectly justifiable to take sick leave

.

How many hours notice do you need to call in sick?

Most employers require their employees to call in sick

at least two hours

before the employee’s shift, but this entirely depends on your company’s policy. It is short notice, but it leaves enough time for the employer to find someone to cover your work.

What does it mean to nurse someone?

1a : to nourish at the breast : suckle. b : to take nourishment from the breast of. 2a :

to care for and wait on (someone, such as a sick person)

b : to attempt to cure by care and treatment.

How can a nurse get 8 days off?

What are the perks of being a nurse?

  • Helping Others. Whether they’re caring for patients at the bedside or fighting for patient rights, nurses are in the business of improving and saving lives. …
  • High Demand. …
  • Earning Potential. …
  • Diverse Opportunities. …
  • Flexible Schedules. …
  • Trusted Profession. …
  • Work Wardrobe. …
  • Physical Demands.

Do nurses get a lot of time off?

As the data indicates,

nurses consistently receive more paid vacation days than all other workers

. On average, nurses get three more days of paid vacation than all employees, a figure that’s consistent throughout the length of employment. As you can see: After one year, nurses receive 17 vacation days, on average.

James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.