Emotional Demands Top List of Challenges for Healthcare Workers

• Healthcare workers continue to experience high levels of burnout emotionally, mentally, and physically.
• A new study reveals what exhausts healthcare workers most.
• Experts share insights on how the healthcare system can support and what healthcare workers can do to manage stress.

Caring for patients is an all-encompassing job that can leave healthcare workers feeling physically, emotionally, and mentally drained.

According to a study conducted by WellSky, 67% of healthcare workers and 63% of nurses cite physical and emotional demands to be one of the biggest disadvantages in their line of work. The study also found:

• 51% of nurses have sought mental health support due to work-related stress.
• 47% of Gen Z were more likely to name emotional stress as the primary barrier preventing them from doing their best work.
• 44% of healthcare workers and nurses name staffing shortages as the top barrier preventing them from performing at their highest level.
• 92% of healthcare workers indicate the government should make mental health support for healthcare workers a national priority.
• 55% believe AI can help reduce burnout.

“To address these issues, mental health resources, improved compensation, effective technology, and especially the use of AI for streamlining workflows and supporting caregivers, are essential for retaining staff and enhancing well-being,” Tim Ashe, Chief Clinical Officer at WellSky, told Healthgrades.

Despite the challenges facing healthcare workers, Ashe said WellSky’s study shows that people genuinely want to work in healthcare.

“In fact, 97% of respondents say they’re proud to tell their families they work in the field, and the majority have a positive perception of working in both acute and home-based care,” he said. “The challenge isn’t with the work itself, it’s with the demands being placed on those doing it.”

He said the following can help.

With over half of nurses reporting that they sought help due to work-related stress, Ashe said emotional well-being must be treated as a core component of workplace health, not a luxury or afterthought.

Nearly half of respondents indicated that higher pay would encourage them to manage increased patient care without experiencing burnout, suggesting that financial recognition is a factor in overall job satisfaction.

Ashe found that adequate time off, flexible scheduling, and support from managers and coworkers closely followed financial compensation in terms of motivators that would assist with burnout.

Because nurses and physicians spend a significant amount of time on documentation and coordination, automating or improving these processes could enable more patient interaction and reduce burnout.

In fact, Ashe noted that 77% of nurses stated that software that’s familiar or user-friendly is a deciding factor when considering a role, and 84% prioritize easy-to-learn systems when choosing where to work.

Policies that provide funding for workforce development, caregiver benefits, and better working conditions may help improve the sustainability of the healthcare profession.

“These strategies together can establish a more stable environment where healthcare professionals are better supported in delivering quality care,” Ashe said.

While healthcare will always be demanding, he said that people are drawn to the purpose and impact of the work.

“When leaders actively support their teams in the ways that matter most—through culture, mental health, and the right tools—they’re not just helping staff stay; they’re helping them thrive,” said Ashe.

While some factors of the job are uncontrollable, Deborah Serani, PsyD, ABPP, a psychologist and professor at Adelphi University in New York, said the following are ways healthcare professionals can care for their emotional and mental well-being.

To offset work stress and compassion fatigue, Serani suggests taking microbreaks during workdays to reset. These breaks can include stretching, box breathing, glancing outside, taking a walk in fresh air, hydrating, or engaging in a few minutes of quiet meditation.

“During off days, clock out from work by limiting access to emails, phone calls, etc.,” she said. “Downtime matters, so connect with loved ones, sleep and eat well, and create moments that refill your senses in meaningful ways.”

Psychological agency refers to the ability to have a mindful sense of control over your life. Serani said at work, this means being able to recognize what issues are in your control and which ones are not.

“Studies report that individuals who have a greater sense of agency are more resilient and experience increased well-being at work,” she said.

By developing agency, you better understand how to use your energy and convictions realistically.

“By doing so, you feel less helpless and more empowered because you’re using self-awareness to modify what’s doable, and accept what’s beyond your reach,” said Serani.

The term burnout syndrome is described as an emotional and physical state of exhaustion, feeling worn out, despondent, and overwhelmed by work demands.

Symptoms often include detachment from others, elevated heart rate, blood pressure, stress hormone levels, and a reduced sense of personal achievement at work. Early signs of burnout include irritability, impatience, a lack of motivation, feeling unhappy at work, and growing cynicism about life.

“Most of all, be mindful if others ask how you’re feeling or mention they see behavioral and physical changes in you,” said Serani. “Sometimes we don’t detect the early signs of burnout, but our colleagues, friends, and family members do.”

Before burnout worsens, prioritize resting and refueling by scheduling time off from work to reset, whether it’s a few days or a full week. Research indicates that taking time off can improve employee well-being, health, and productivity.

“Further, time away activates our parasympathetic nervous system, otherwise known as our rest and digest safety system, which counterbalances stress, so our mind, body, and soul can refuel and recharge,” said Serani. “When you return back to work, you’ll do so with improved well-being.”

The above tips are useless unless you put them into action.

“Self-care is not something one can read about and know instinctively. It requires you to engage in it daily, and move through the practice of it often; not every now and again,” Serani said. “So, put them into action. Learn what works for you. And give yourself the gift of self-care every day.”