Depression & Nurses: A Closer Look At A Common Problem No One Wants To Talk About

Whether in a hospital or at a doctor’s appointment, nurses greet patients with a comforting warmth and kindness. Despite this, nurses are at risk of developing depression at twice the rate of a patient who does not work in the medical field. The problem is that despite lots of medical training, some nurses struggle with self-diagnosing a condition such as depression because they do not notice the symptoms.

Symptoms of Depression

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, many of the symptoms associated with depression are vague, including feeling exhausted, feeling empty, feeling distracted, feeling moody, or struggling with sleep. Nurses shrug off these symptoms, as they have a hectic job and lifestyle. This is a little ironic as nurses would also be the first individuals to tell a patient depression is not a condition to shrug off. Depression will slowly chip away at a nurse’s ability to perform daily tasks both at home and at work. In time, he or she loses any drive or motivation to keep working.

Secret Epidemic

When it comes to short staffing, a lack of medical staff support, or poor working conditions, nurses are open books. The same is not true of depression and other mental illnesses in the nursing field. Minority Nurse argues it is one of the best-kept secrets in this profession. Just shy of 20 percent of nurses suffer from depression, yet no one wants to open up about it. The question is – why is depression in nurses some big secret?

Misinformation

The first big reason why nurses ignore and hide depression is that a lot of people do not understand it. Misinformation causes discrimination against any nurses labeled with a mental illness, such as depression, as a nurse who is unable to do his or her job. With proper treatment, there is no reason why someone cannot live with depression and continue a career as a nurse.

The fact that depression is a secret epidemic in the nursing field is part of what makes it a more serious problem. Instead of getting treatment, nurses bury their depression, which only makes it worse. The longer the depression stays buried, the more crippling it becomes and the harder it becomes to treat.

Discrimination

An individual needs strength to take on the role of being a nurse. The misinformation about depression causes many people to see individuals who suffer from it as weak. This loops around into some thinking nurses who are depressed are unable to handle their job. It is the combination of misinformation and discrimination that results in depression in nursing to be such a hidden problem.

What Needs to Happen?

Nurses who experience any potential depression symptoms should make a doctor’s appointment. A nurse can prevent depression from controlling his or her life and career by taking proactive steps toward making an appointment and establishing a treatment plan as soon as possible.

Individuals who oversee a nursing staff should learn to recognize symptoms of depression. If possible, find a way to casually approach potentially depressed nurses. Depression plays a negative role in a nurse’s ability to provide care to his or her patients.

Treatment and Care

Depending on the severity of the depression, a nurse may need to take some time off work to get better. The manager of a nursing staff should provide a supportive work environment for nurses struggling with depression. Nurses need to know they can approach their boss about depression and request time off without it causing problems.

Depression is a crippling condition, but nurses and managers of nursing staff should not avoid or fear the condition. Awareness and acceptance of depression, followed by treatment, makes it possible for nurses to continue to do their job.

For additional information about depression among medical staff, visit our article, “Medical School and Mental Health: Depression Among Doctors.”