Wellness in the Workplace

Bullying is a costly workplace harassment leading to negative emotional and physical health. Bullying victims may experience emotional repercussions, such as anxiety, depression, and leading to potential substance abuse. Physical symptoms may include increased sickness, nausea, headaches, and insomnia.

These physical and emotional symptoms in nurses can lead to reduced professional competence, increased absence from work, and development of learned behavior that the bully culture is just “part of the job.” In a 2014 study, over 50% of nurses experienced verbal abuse within the previous year. This speaks to the fact that “60% of new RNs who quit their first job in nursing within 6 months report that it is because of being bullied.” Turnover costs to each hospital are estimated to be $4.4 to $7 million/year.

AANA Resources

• AANA, AORN, ASPAN Workplace Civility Position Statement (2021) and white paper.
• Burnout and Compassion Fatigue
• AANA Practice Considerations: Promoting a Culture of Safety and Healthy Work Environment, 2018
• AANA Practice Considerations: Nurse Anesthesia Leadership Survival Guide, 2018

AANA Journal

• • Letters to the Editor: Hazardous Intraoperative Behaviors: What’s at Risk?, June 2016
  • Workplace Incivility Affecting CRNAs: A Study of Prevalence, Severity, and Consequences With Proposed Interventions, Dec. 2014

External Resources

• • The High Cost of Nurse Bullying

There are many ways to support the personal well-being of CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists and RRNAs close to where they live and work.

What are the benefits of promoting wellness:

• Adds variety and networking opportunities
• Helps encourage healthy behaviors
• Provides awareness of the occupational risk of substance use disorder (SUD)
• Informs members of available AANA Wellness resources for assisting CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists and RRNAs in practicing holistic well-being

Create a Wellness Exhibit

• Always include a state wellness committee member in any wellness or substance use disorder exhibit or lecture during a state association meeting so attendees know where to get help.
• Get ideas from Take it to Your State (PDF), written by Peer Assistance Panel member Bridget Petrillo, APRN, CRNA.
• Recruit local residents or CRNAs/nurse anesthesiologists who work together, to help organize or “staff” the table; a great learning experience and intro to getting involved in the state association.

AANA Resources

• Signs and Behaviors Impairment Diversion (PDF)
• Burnout and CRNAs Flyer (PDF)
• Resources for Wellness & Substance Use Disorder Education and Research (PDF)
• Ways to Relieve Stress (PDF)
• Free AANA Helpline cards in packs of 25
• AANA well-being resources poster 18×24 (PDF)
• AANA well-being resources poster 24×36 (PDF)
• AANA well-being resources poster 18×24 for professional printing (PDF)
• AANA well-being resources poster 24×36 for professional printing (PDF)

External Resources

• SAMHSA National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Wallet Cards
• AFSP brochures and wallet cards