The Ongoing Nursing Shortage and Nurses’ Mental Health (Interview)
On December 11, 2024, Dr. Iman Abuzeid, CEO and co-founder of Incredible Health, spoke with Bloomberg Businessweek's Carol Massar about the ongoing nursing shortage and its impact on nurses' mental health. The conversation highlighted the challenges faced by healthcare professionals during the COVID-19 pandemic and the measures being taken to support them.Incredible Health
Interview Highlights
Carol Massar (Host, Bloomberg Businessweek): Welcome back, Dr. Abuzeid. How are you managing during these challenging times?
Dr. Iman Abuzeid: Thank you for having me. I'm doing "pandemic good."
Carol: Can you update us on what your teams are witnessing with COVID-19 cases and their management strategies?
Dr. Abuzeid: We operate a rapidly growing career marketplace for healthcare workers. Hospitals using our platform to hire permanent staff and the nurses utilizing it are at the forefront of the pandemic. Hospital leaders have developed better strategies for managing COVID-19, including resolving PPE shortages and establishing infection control measures. However, nurses are experiencing increased stress and burnout.
Carol: How do you address this issue? Does fatigue lead to nurses being unable to work, or are they managing with support?
Dr. Abuzeid: Absolutely. A study conducted during a significant peak earlier in the pandemic showed nurses experiencing high stress levels, with many reporting acute stress symptoms. This mental strain contributes to nurse burnout and stress, leading to retention issues in some hospitals.
Carol: With rising numbers, there's concern about healthcare workers getting sick and burnout leading to inadequate staff levels to care for patients. Is this happening?
Dr. Abuzeid: Yes. Even before the pandemic, there was a U.S. nursing shortage due to rising healthcare demand as the population ages. The pandemic has added pressure, and we're hearing about severe staff shortages from most partners.
Carol: Discussions around the pandemic's mental health effects have intensified. How do you support healthcare workers and nurses?
Dr. Abuzeid: Our mission is to enhance healthcare professionals' lives and help them find and excel in their work. We've launched the Incredible Health Nurse Community, a free online space for nurses to support each other and discuss workplace stress anonymously. We've also introduced digital journaling features in our app to help nurses process stress more effectively.
Carol: How much engagement do you see on these platforms?
Dr. Abuzeid: Quite a bit. Thousands of nurses have used the Nurse Community, which has been active for months and was recently announced publicly.
Carol: What long-term changes or realizations do you foresee for healthcare post-pandemic?
Dr. Abuzeid: Healthcare workers were overworked and undervalued before COVID-19. While overworking may not change soon, appreciation should rise. The pandemic highlighted their crucial role, and we must remember their importance to the economy and country and provide more support.
Carol: What procedures could simplify healthcare workers' jobs now?
Dr. Abuzeid: During the pandemic, we embraced remote interviewing and onboarding, which significantly reduced our platform's hiring time. These efficient, tech-driven processes are likely here to stay.
Carol: You've expanded into new markets. How has the pandemic influenced that?
Dr. Abuzeid: Our expansion plans were set before the pandemic, but workforce shortages accelerated our growth.
Carol: How should we tackle future healthcare worker shortages given the aging population?
Dr. Abuzeid: We need to train more healthcare professionals and make education accessible. We offer free continuing education for nurses and aim to expand post-education training.
The nursing shortage and its impact on mental health remain critical issues in the healthcare industry. Organizations like Incredible Health are taking proactive steps to support nurses through community building and technological innovations.
For more information on nursing opportunities and resources, visit GoodWork.
