Nursing on the Rocks: Community Health Workers Missing More Days Than Their Peers
Healthcare Workers More Prone to Illness Compared to Employees in Other Sectors - Healthcare Professionals, Specifically Nurses, Experience Higher Illness Rates Compared to Employees in Other Sectors
Listen up, 'cause this is gonna be a tough pill to swallow. Them hardworking, tireless heroes in nursing - you know, the unsung heroes who care for our elders and those in need - are getting sick more often than employees in many other fields. According to Studies by Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) in the Northeast state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, the constant grind is taking its toll.
Last year, nursing staff in the region clocked an average of 32.6 days off due to illness - that's a hefty 4.1 days more than the national average! TK regional director Manon Austenat-Wied summed it up, "Nursing staff sick days are still significantly higher than in other professions, dude." The national average sick leave took a total of 24.6 days, while the average across all occupations was 28.5 days.
But why the sickness gap?
It's like a ticket to a rollercoaster ride, just with more worrying curves. Nursing care involves physically taxing tasks such as lifting patients and providing personal assistance, which may end up causing musculoskeletal problems or long-term health issues for our marvelous nurses. The intense emotional stress they face while caring for patients, providing support, and making hard decisions can also take a heavy toll on mental health.
Our dedicated heroes are also more susceptible to infectious diseases due to their close contact with patients and the high-risk environment they work in. Combine that with long hours, irregular shift work, and night shifts, which mess with our sleep patterns and overall wellbeing, and you've got a recipe for stress and sickness.
Lack of support systems can also contribute to burnout among nursing staff, leaving them drained and vulnerable to falling ill. Sometimes, our heroes don't have enough help to lighten their load and share the burden, leading to tremendous stress and exhaustion.
So, what's the deal with Tecknischer-Krankenkasse (TK) in the northeast? Well, they evaluated the sick leave records of over 100k insured members in the region and found that the nursing staff's sick days were significantly higher than in other industries. TK is one of the biggest statutory health insurers in the state, covering close to a quarter of a million people.
Now, let's talk numbers. Currently, about 21,000 nursing staff care for more than 120,000 patients across over a thousand facilities and services in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and the elderly population in need of care is on the rise. Thankfully, the state has taken action, launching the "Pact for Nursing" in autumn 2023 to support and retain specialist caregivers and ensure nursing care is available in rural areas. In the past, nursing facilities have shut down due to staff shortages, leaving vulnerable residents high and dry.
Long story short - our hardworking nurses are getting sick more often than other professionals, and it's time we do something about it. Create a healthy and supportive work environment for these crucial workers, or we might find ourselves short on the help we need when we need it most. It’s time to prioritize their health and wellbeing so they can continue caring for our loved ones with the same dedication and care.
Community policy should be implemented to address the concerning trend of nursing staff taking more days off due to illness than other professionals. Vocational training programs in workplace-wellness, health-and-sciences, and mental-health could be beneficial for nursing staff, lessening the impacts of the physically and emotionally demanding nature of their work.
