The COVID-19 pandemic has had a great impact on our lives, and many aspects of life will never be the same. The healthcare industry has suffered greatly, perhaps the most, losing many professionals along the way. Those who are left behind have also suffered, with many more considering following their colleagues that have left the industry entirely. Surveys show that 43% of nurses are considering leaving their profession, 87% feel their facilities are still short-staffed, and 53% do not feel optimistic about the future of US healthcare.

Healthcare has been hit hard by the “Great Resignation”, and should things remain the same, studies show that the losses will continue. Facilities are already struggling with increased workloads and short staffing and, with the end of the pandemic still not in sight, this situation has the potential to become even worse. Faced with an influx of patients with every new variant that is discovered, the healthcare professionals that remain on the front lines are being pushed to their limits to keep up with patient demands.The US healthcare system is straining greatly under the pressure.

In the face of these challenges, it is important for healthcare facilities to hold on to as many staff members as they can. The only way to do so is to improve the support that these staff members are being given. Healthcare will never be the same again after this pandemic, but perhaps some of the lessons we take from it can be positive ones; healthcare facilities must do a better job at supporting their team members, lest the load become too great for them to bear and they leave the profession entirely. Read on for 3 tips on bettering supporting your staff:

1. Show Appreciation

There are a great many ways an organization can show they appreciate their staff; You could take them out for a lunch or dinner party, give them gift cards to their favorite stores, or offer them adequate time to perform personal errands once they are done with their duties. When showing appreciation, it is important to remember that actions speak louder than words. Along with recognizing your healthcare team’s tireless efforts, consider gifts that can uplift their spirits year-round. A gift idea like a custom calendar maker can feature personalized photos, motivating quotes, and important reminders designed specifically for your staff. While a kind word once in a while would not be remiss, the organization must also make a tangible effort to show its employees that they are valued.

2. Give Them What They Need

The medical profession has always been an incredibly stressful one, and the pandemic has made it even more stressful. It is also likely that the workers are struggling in their personal lives as much as they are in their professional lives. It can be difficult to know what to do in these situations as an employer; the best thing to do is to simply ask staff what kind of support they would like from their organization.

There might be easy solutions available that may have not occurred to anyone in the management. Asking employees what they need can make it easier for the the decision makers to keep their employees happy. These solutions must be implemented as soon as possible.

3. Mental Health

A deadly, global pandemic is not an easy time to be living and working through, especially for those in healthcare. Studies have shown that over 80% of EMS workers reported depression symptoms, and 24.4% reported suicidal ideation or thoughts of self-harm. Healthcare organizations must pay greater attention to mental health issues in their staff to avoid these numbers from growing even more.

Support in this area can come in many shapes; time off when needed, regular breaks, training on stress management or partnering with a mental health services provider to ensure no one on staff is under too much stress. Organizations must be proactive in this, as the mental health impact on healthcare workers can no longer be denied.

The pandemic has been a difficult time for all of us, though it is fair to say that those in healthcare may have suffered the most. To ensure these people can continue to perform their extremely important duties, it is important for organizations to ensure that they have all the support they need from a mental health standpoint. Healthier providers provide better care to their communities.