IN THE dynamic and high-pressure world of healthcare, nurses serve as a vital link, tirelessly delivering skilled health interventions to those requiring assistance. Their crucial role within healthcare teams includes remaining at their patients’ bedside and offering continuous care to people navigating the stress and fear associated with experiencing health issues. This daily responsibility extends to interacting with concerned family members and their patients’ loved ones as well. Meanwhile, nurses are acutely aware that the demands on them often exceed their capacity, making it challenging to provide the optimal level of care they aspire to deliver.
According to our 2023 survey of RPNs, 92 per cent say their workload has increased over the last few years, and nearly 7 in 10 nurses surveyed do not feel they have the time and resources available to provide adequate care to their patients.
Besides being highly knowledgeable and skilled in their profession, nurses must also bring compassion, resilience, and empathy to the table as they provide continuing care. Sustaining these emotions over a long period is as exhausting as the physical demands of the job. It only makes sense that a fellow nurse in the next room providing similar care and interventions will be the best person to truly comprehend what you are going through shift after shift.
Friendships among nurses can create a network of understanding and encouragement, often unspoken, fostering an atmosphere where challenges are faced collectively. The emotional toll of the job becomes more manageable when shared with individuals who are also experiencing the unique stresses and triumphs inherent in nursing.
The demanding nature of nursing can lead to moral distress, impacting both physical and mental well-being. According to our 2023 survey, 87 percent of nurses who experience moral distress are faced with knowing patients deserve more but are unable to offer it. Shockingly, most nurses (78 per cent surveyed) have experienced a breaking point related to their job in the past year, and 89 per cent say their mental health is suffering due to workplace conditions.
Although they will not solve the broader system issues, workplace friendships buffer against some of these negative effects. The camaraderie and shared experiences among friends at work can alleviate stress and provide a source of emotional support. Happy nurses can help create happy patients. They are also less likely to leave the profession or look for a new job.
Another benefit to having workplace friendships is the impact this can have on effective teamwork. Friendships among nurses will enhance collaboration and communication, creating a seamless flow of information within the healthcare team. When nurses share a bond beyond professional duties, communication becomes more open and honest. This, in turn, leads to improved patient outcomes as the team functions cohesively, drawing on the strengths of each member and covering each other when demands are high.
Building a Resilient Nursing Community:
Nurses and nursing leaders can help foster these important bonds in the following ways:
Promote community-building activities both inside and outside the work environment.
Whether a physical activity, creative endeavour, or even volunteering, getting out of the office with your colleagues can lead to a better understanding of each other and be an important step in forging those workplace relationships.
Develop a “Buddy System.”
In the US military, there is a program called “Battle Buddies,” where soldiers are assigned a buddy with the expectation that they will help each other through difficult situations and stop self-isolation from happening when things become challenging. This facilitated arrangement can lead to deeper friendships and understanding with colleagues while building the reality that someone at work will always have your back.
Use onboarding as a tool to help staff establish relationships right from the beginning.
Managers and HR can work with staff to facilitate situations where new orientees have opportunities to meet every staff member on the unit.
Implement a Mentoring Program
Similar to the buddy program, pairing an experienced nurse with a new nurse will help create a structure for check-ins and ways to connect and form bonds between staff. WeRPN offers career-building initiatives to support RPNs in the workplace, including a Mentorship-Match Program and RPN Connect. This hub brings together RPNs to collaborate and contribute ideas to enhance nursing innovation and excellence in professional practice.
Have a New Staff display
on a bulletin board or in a virtual environment like the staff portal to help everyone get to know the new faces.
In the dynamic landscape of healthcare, the role of friendships in the workplace for nurses cannot be understated. These bonds not only provide emotional support but also contribute to reducing the physical impacts of stress while preventing burnout and enhancing collaboration and professional growth.
As nurses continue to face the unique challenges of their profession, fostering and nurturing workplace friendships is a powerful strategy for building a resilient, connected, and thriving nursing community. Through these friendships, the true strength and compassion of nursing professionals shine, creating a positive ripple effect that extends beyond the workplace and into the lives of those they care for.
