The Critical Need to Care for Critical Care ICU Nurses
In Critical Care Intensive Care Units (ICUs) across the country, nurses and bedside caregivers provide essential support to patients and families, frequently during the worst days of their lives. At Valleywise Health, these highly trained healthcare professionals often witness traumatic injuries and life-threatening illnesses. They also face the emotional toll of end-of-life care every day they report for work.
“The patient population we care for is suffering with very high acuity medical situations, serious mental health problems and social disparities, including homelessness,” said Alana Weber, Registered Nurse and Clinical Practice Educator at Valleywise Health. “We believe that quality healthcare is a human right for everyone, regardless of their circumstances.”
Although critical care nurses are trained to handle the most intense and complex medical situations, they are also human, and the impact of the job cannot be understated.
“Some jobs are emotionally hard, some are physically hard, and some are intellectually hard; nursing is all three,” Weber said. “There are consequences to not fostering personal wellness in a role like nursing. Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, is an extreme example of one of these consequences.”
According to a recent study in the American Journal of Critical Care, PTSD rates in ICU nurses are steadily increasing. The study indicates that 47% of nurses surveyed were at risk for PTSD, with many also reporting significant levels of moral distress, depression and empathy burnout.
To help mitigate these challenges, many hospitals and healthcare institutions are providing dedicated safe spaces where nurses can decompress, process trauma and recharge both physically and mentally.
“Having a quiet and safe space to decompress for 15 minutes after a stressful situation or a place to pull a colleague for a chat is a small thing that can have a big impact,” said Weber. “A wellness room isn’t a luxury – it is an essential tool to ensure nurses can recover and move forward after a traumatic event.”
Weber and her team are advocating for a Critical Care Wellness Room at Valleywise Health, featuring sage-painted walls, massage chairs, dim lighting, gentle music and a library fully stocked with self-help reading materials.
“When nurses are healthy and supported, patient care improves, medical errors decrease, retention rates go up and the health system becomes more resilient to future crises,” Weber concluded. “Supporting the Critical Care Wellness Room is a great way for people to show they care about the health of the nursing community.”
If you are interested in donating to the Critical Care Wellness Room at Valleywise Health, visit https://secure.givelively.org/donate/valleywise-health-foundation/help-our-critical-care-team- create-a-space-to-recharge
