💜 Would I Know If My Staff Were Burned Out? Absolutely — Here’s How I Lead with Awareness

Someone recently asked me, “Would you know if your staff were burned out?”

I didn’t answer right away. Not because I didn’t know — but because burnout doesn’t always wear a name tag.

Burnout doesn’t just look like endless overtime. Sometimes it looks like a nurse who shows up on time every day but is quietly checked out. It’s the short responses, the forced smiles, or the once-outspoken nurse who suddenly becomes quiet.

In my current contract, no one’s working extreme hours. But that doesn’t mean they aren’t exhausted.

When you’ve had four Directors of Nursing in one year, that kind of turnover alone can drain a team.

Now, as they transition into having a permanent leader, my job isn’t just to manage — it’s to observe, listen, and support.

💭 Observation Is Leadership

One morning, a nurse told me, “I’m calling out tomorrow — it’s just too much.” Instead of responding with frustration, I asked, “Why?”

She explained that she was overwhelmed, studying for her NCLEX while trying to balance everything else. I immediately told the scheduler to cover her shift.

She didn’t need a lecture — she needed space.

Sometimes the best intervention isn’t scheduling — it’s understanding.

Leadership means being aware enough to step in with empathy, not authority.

🫶 Connection Over Command

Every day, I check in with my team — not just a quick “Hey, how are you?” but:

• “How are you feeling today?”

• “What do you need from me to be more effective?”

  
  

Those simple questions shift everything.

I also pay attention to what they eat — and yes, that matters. What we put into our bodies affects how we show up. So, when I can, I offer healthier snack options in the nurses’ station.

We take care of residents all day — sometimes we forget to take care of ourselves.

🌱 Create a Safe Space

In every facility I lead, I aim to build a space where staff feel safe to talk — no judgment, no explanations. Just room to be human.

I don’t only correct what’s wrong. I highlight what’s right. I celebrate the small wins, the teamwork moments, the compassion that often goes unnoticed.

That’s how you prevent burnout — through trust, not fear.

💡 The Bottom Line

Would I know if my staff were burned out? Yes — because I pay attention.

And if I ever missed the signs, I trust that my team would tell me.

Leadership isn’t about barking orders; it’s about listening, observing, and leading with love.

💜 Lead with love,

YourFavNurseLeader,

Bilquis Ali