"I believe that as nurses, we must take care of ourselves before we can effectively care for others. I encourage my team to have a healthy work-life balance and provide little articles or emails on ways to care for themselves. I regularly check in with my staff to understand what's going well within our team and what could be improved. I have found that giving the employees a voice shows them I value their contributions and want to make improvements where possible. Working in the mental health field can be challenging, and sometimes you just need a break or to talk to someone, and I strive to support my team as we're all in this together!"

Turnover among psychiatric nurses is among the highest in any setting, so it's essential that you, as the leader, can monitor, identify and address signs of burnout among staff. Describe ways that you take a proactive approach and communicate with your staff regularly. Discuss with the interviewer your strategies to keep your team engaged and retained.

Burnout among nurses is common in all settings but can be especially present in a psychiatric unit. I encourage staff to take their breaks while on shift to give themselves a break from the unit and patients. I also encourage them to use PTO time and avoid picking up excessive amounts of overtime if they are becoming burned out. I provide education and resources to help them manage the high stress of the unit and keep their own mental health good.