Nurses’ guilt: how not to self-blame for things you can’t control

Fallout from service pressures can make nurses internalise others’ feelings or worries, so it’s essential to recognise and manage the risks of shouldering guilt

• Nurses discuss the guilt they carry around about work, and the factors that trigger it
• Healthcare culture can make nurses feel they must compensate for system failures
• Read first-hand accounts of dealing with professional guilt and expert advice on coping strategies

Feelings of professional guilt affect nurses at all levels, say those involved in delivering psychological or emotional support to healthcare workers, and the current climate is exacerbating them.

Examples nurses gave to Nursing Standard include feeling guilty about smiling, buying coffee or even sitting