NHS nurses are under so much pressure that many are turning to alcohol or even contemplating suicide amid rising workloads and no time for breaks
- Three quarters claim that they are so busy they do not get to take breaks
- Nearly three in five ‘often finish a shift without even drinking glass of water’
- One nurse said she had received treatment for kidney stones because she had not been able to drink enough fluid
A survey of almost 2,000 NHS nurses found many describing a lack of breaks, excessive workloads, hunger and dehydration affecting their well-being. (File photo)
Nurses say they are under so much pressure that many are turning to alcohol to cope and even contemplating suicide.
Three-quarters (75 per cent) claim they are so busy that they do not get to take breaks while nearly three in five say they often finish a shift without even drinking a glass of water.
The survey of almost 2,000 NHS nurses found many describing a lack of breaks, excessive workloads, hunger and dehydration affecting their well-being.
One nurse said she had received treatment for kidney stones because she had not been able to drink enough fluid, while another told of having a ‘total meltdown’ and suicidal thoughts because of work pressures.
Kim Sunley, national officer for the Royal College of Nursing, said the findings were a worrying snapshot of the situation up and down the country.
‘It is sad that not taking breaks seems to now have become “the norm”, she said.
‘Obviously in a crisis or emergency, absolutely, you wouldn’t go on your break, but when it becomes the norm that you don’t, that is unsustainable and leads to sick, exhausted and worn-out nurses.
‘These comments show the very personal impact that extremely pressurised working environments and lack of management support can have on nursing staff’.
One nurse said she had received treatment for kidney stones because she had not been able to drink enough fluid, while another told of having a ‘total meltdown’ and suicidal thoughts because of work pressures. (File photo)
The findings, published in the Nursing Standard, comes as around one in 10 are leaving the profession every year.
Those walking away outnumbered new people joining by 3,000 last year with many blaming the scrapping of bursaries last year, meaning trainees pay £9,000 a year in fees.
Of those quitting, more than half are under 40, with many citing stress and rising workloads for being behind their decisions to leave.
Almost half of nurses claimed they did not have access to healthy or nutritious food at work.
One said: ‘The workload is unmanageable most days. They take 30 minutes’ break off of us every day, but we never get a chance to have that break.’
The Government is increasing the number of nurse training places by 25 per cent this year.
But unions claim it will be three years before they graduate, with one in nine nursing positions currently vacant.
The RCN is set to debate hydration and other workplace issues at its annual congress starting tomorrow.
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