The Lived Experiences of Nurses: Mental Health Challenges Working In The Clinical Practice

Nursing is a profession that requires not only physical strength but also emotional resilience. This study explored how nurses experience and make sense of the mental health challenges they encounter in their daily clinical practice. The findings revealed that nurses frequently experience stress, anxiety, emotional exhaustion, burnout, and mental fatigue due to heavy workloads, long working hours, staffing shortages, and the constant pressure of caring for patients while meeting the expectations of families, physicians, and management. Many nurses described these struggles as a normal part of the profession, often choosing to hide their emotions and continue working despite feeling overwhelmed. To cope, they rely on self-care activities, hobbies, exercise, work-life balance, and support from family and colleagues. However, many participants felt that the support provided by their hospitals was limited or difficult to access, leaving them to manage their challenges largely on their own. Over time, these unresolved mental health concerns were perceived to affect their motivation, job satisfaction, career growth, and desire to remain in the nursing profession. The study highlights the importance of creating supportive work environments and strengthening mental health programs to promote nurses' well-being, resilience, and retention.