Healthcare teams continue to navigate extraordinary demands. Long shifts, emotionally complex work and ongoing staffing pressures have made stress and burnout persistent challenges across the industry.
While conditions have improved since the height of the pandemic, healthcare workers continue to report high levels of exhaustion and mental strain, often referred to as the “cost of caring.”
The World Health Organization has highlighted ongoing concerns around healthcare worker wellbeing, while research from KLAS Research found burnout rates remain above pre-pandemic levels.
For healthcare leaders, the challenge isn’t simply recognizing the problem, it’s finding practical ways to support staff within the realities of busy healthcare environments. While long-term workforce and operational strategies remain important, smaller everyday interventions can also play a valuable role in helping workers take a breath and recharge during demanding shifts.
When stress goes unchecked for healthcare workers
The impact of sustained workplace stress extends beyond individual wellbeing. Research from the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) found that more than 138,000 nurses left the workforce between 2022 and 2024, with stress and burnout among the factors cited. Nearly 40% of nurses surveyed also reported plans to leave within the next five years.
Workforce pressures can create additional challenges for healthcare organizations. According to the American Medical Association, healthcare professionals working in understaffed environments are significantly more likely to report symptoms of burnout. When teams are stretched, the demands placed on remaining staff can intensify, which can lead to a self-perpetuating cycle.
These findings highlight an important reality: supporting healthcare workers isn’t solely about addressing long-term workforce challenges. It’s also about finding ways to help employees manage the pressures they face day-to-day.
What meaningful support can look like
There is no single solution to workplace stress, and every healthcare organization faces its own unique circumstances. However, some of the most accessible forms of support can be surprisingly simple.
Small moments of recovery throughout the day can help employees step back briefly from the constant demands of clinical work. This might include opportunities for micro-breaks between tasks, dedicated quiet areas where staff can decompress, or access to content and entertainment that helps them mentally switch gears for a few minutes before returning to work.
These types of initiatives aren’t designed to solve burnout on their own. Rather, they help create moments of relief within an otherwise demanding environment. When those moments are easy to access and fit naturally into the workday, they’re more likely to become part of employees’ routines.
A 2023 systematic review published in BMJ Open found that workplace wellbeing interventions can help support resilience and wellbeing among healthcare workers while contributing to reductions in stress and burnout. While broader organizational strategies remain essential, small opportunities to recharge can complement existing wellbeing efforts and help staff feel supported throughout the day.
Supporting small moments of reset
One way healthcare organizations are approaching this is by providing employees with access to quality content they can enjoy during short breaks.
PressReader, for example, provides access to thousands of newspapers, magazines and books from around the world, covering everything from current affairs and business to travel, hobbies, sports, and entertainment. Whether someone wants to catch up on a favourite publication, explore a personal interest, or simply take a brief mental break from work, it offers a simple way to support those moments.
Research has also linked reading with reduced stress, improved focus and overall wellbeing, making it a useful way to recharge during short breaks. (We took a closer look at the health benefits of reading in this post.)
Many hospitals and clinics already provide PressReader as a resource for patients and visitors, giving them access to trusted news, magazines, books and puzzles during their stay. Extending that same access to healthcare workers creates an additional benefit, allowing staff to enjoy the same content during breaks and moments of downtime throughout the day.
Because the digital catalog can be accessed on personal devices, PressReader fits naturally into a healthcare workers’ day. Staff can engage with content whenever they have a few minutes to spare, whether that’s during a scheduled break, between tasks, or while decompressing after a challenging shift.
Small actions can make a meaningful difference
Supporting healthcare workers doesn’t always require a major new initiative. Often, it’s the smaller touches, like quiet spaces, opportunities to pause, and simple ways to mentally reset, that can help employees feel supported during demanding days.
As healthcare organizations continue exploring ways to strengthen employee wellbeing, practical tools that make it easier for staff to recharge — even briefly — can become a meaningful part of a broader support strategy. In high-pressure environments, sometimes a few moments to disconnect can make all the difference.
