How to tackle burnout as a dental nurse

Gemma Forsythe explores burnout in dental nursing, including what causes it and how you can try to prevent it.

Burnout is a state of physical and emotional exhaustion due to excessive and prolonged work-related stressors.

When you are stressed for a long time and it is not addressed, this can lead to burnout. Burnout is not a medical condition, but it is something that people may need support for.

It is an ‘occupational phenomenon’, meaning that it describes feelings caused by work-related pressure, as opposed to other life stresses.

The Burnout Report 2024 by Mental Health UK found that nine in 10 UK adults experienced high or extreme stress in the past year.

Almost a quarter of UK adults felt unable to manage stress and pressure in their lives, while 35% of respondents did not feel comfortable talking about mental health with management at work.

What causes burnout?

If you are experiencing burnout, you may feel emotionally exhausted and lack energy. You may also feel negative about your work, lack motivation or feel detached. In addition, you may also be less efficient at work and feel like you are inadequate or unable to accomplish anything.

There are several factors that can contribute to burnout, some of which include:

Recognition at work: if you aren’t recognised or rewarded for doing a good job, you can start to feel deflated. You can also lack motivation and confidence. However, if you feel valued at work, this leads to improved job satisfaction
Work relationships: when there is a sense of community at work, you feel more supported in your job. Being a part of a team who works well together can contribute to job satisfaction
Workload: if you struggle to keep up with your workload, this can lead to having little to no time to rest and relax, leading to burnout. This can be worse if you feel you do more in the workplace than other employees
Micromanaging: it is important that employees maintain a level of control over their work. Having someone checking up on what they are doing constantly can make them feel pressured and that they have a lack of control over what they are doing and when they are doing it.

Managing burnout

The impact of burnout on a business can cause an employee to have more sick days, causing staff shortages and pressures on remaining staff. It may even lead to staff members resigning, making it hard to retain staff if burnout is a common occurrence throughout the workforce.

So, what can we do to prevent burnout?

Use your annual leave: taking time off work to relax or do the things you enjoy is so important. Doing this can help to improve your work and performance and gives you something to look forward to
Set boundaries: try not to do too much overtime on a regular basis. Not being logged into work emails on your phone is a good idea to prevent you from reading through these in your downtime. Outside of working hours or on your days off, muting any work-related group chats can be useful to allow you to fully relax
Develop a good bedtime routine: sleep is so important in order to be productive and when you are overworked as it can be one of the main things that suffer when experiencing burnout. Seven to nine hours is the recommended amount of sleep for our health. If you are struggling with your sleep on a regular basis, it is best to contact your GP
Exercise: this is a great way to wind down and feel good about yourself. Being physically active is one of the best things you can do for your health. It is also known to reduce stress
Stay connected: if you are overworked, you may find yourself distancing yourself from friends or family. Replying to messages or meeting friends can seem like a chore when you just want to curl up in a ball. Feeling connected to friends and family can improve both your physical and mental health.

Employer advice

Here is some advice for employers who want to prevent burnout amongst their staff:

Ensure optimum staffing levels where possible
Shift towards a culture of prevention and early intervention
Overcome the stigma of mental health conversations at work
Enable managers to support staff effectively
Encourage compassionate leadership
Educate staff on the signs/symptoms of burnout.

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