A recent study published in The Gerontologist examined the effects of emotional labor, relationships with residents, families and supervisors and how nursing assistants cope with their jobs.
Nursing assistants provide care under stressful conditions that arise from multiple areas. There is the stress involved in caring for residents who have mental health issues or dementia. Stress also comes from challenging or difficult family members. Nursing assistants also feel more stress when they feel they lack support and empathy from their supervisors.
So, how do they cope under these conditions? The researchers of the study reported that nursing assistants cope mainly through the following:
- Self-reliance
- Faith and prayer
- Social support
- Education
In terms of self-reliance, most nursing assistance told the researchers that they cope by understanding that they are on their own. They have to let things go, just cope and get through the day and exercise self-discipline. They also had to be realistic and be aware that there will be good days and there will be bad days. That’s the nature of their work.
Nursing assistants also expressed a strong reliance on religious faith and prayer to manage stress effectively. They pray for strength and patience, knowledge and understanding. Some said that they used faith when there was no formal support offered to them by anyone else. One nursing assistant said “The only thing to do was pray to God to make the pain I felt inside go away”.
Social support and education were both important as means to cope with the pressures of their job. They gained support through their family, friends, school, and church. They also valued education as a way to learn how to handle their jobs better and to connect with like-minded people.
As a leader in senior care, it is important to take a look around at your nursing assistants every now and then and ask how they’re doing. Show empathy and genuine interest in them. Provide the support they need to carry out the challenging job of caregiving.