Sustainable Self-Care: Preventing Burnout to Improve Nurse Well-Being with Dr. Heather Frederick

Abstract: Nurse burnout affects not only clinician well-being but also clinical judgment, communication, teamwork, patient safety, and quality of care. This one-hour continuing education session explores burnout through the lens of social psychology and behavioral science, examining why healthy intentions often fail to become lasting habits. Participants will distinguish burnout from stress and compassion fatigue while learning how decision fatigue, cognitive overload, workplace demands, and environmental cues influence behavior. Moving beyond traditional self-care recommendations, the session introduces evidence-based strategies that make sustainable behavior change more achievable. Through case studies, self-reflection, and practical application, participants will develop a personalized plan to build resilience, reduce burnout risk, and support both their own well-being and the delivery of safe, compassionate, high-quality patient care. Bio of Speaker: Heather Frederick received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Brandeis University in 1999 and has been working in higher education ever since. An expert in doctoral education, she is the author of The Happy Doc Student Handbook: 7 Steps to Graduating with Your Sanity, Health, and Relationships Intact. Her passion is helping individuals optimize their time by living with greater purpose, resilience, and joy. Known for translating psychological science into practical tools, Dr. Frederick brings warmth, humor, and actionable strategies to every presentation. Objectives: 1. Differentiate burnout from stress and compassion fatigue by identifying the psychological characteristics and workplace factors associated with each. 2. Describe how behavioral science principles—including habit formation, decision fatigue, and environmental influences—affect the adoption and maintenance of sustainable self-care behaviors in nursing practice. 3. Apply evidence-based strategies to reduce burnout risk and promote personal resilience while supporting safe, high-quality patient care. 4. Develop an individualized action plan that incorporates sustainable self-care practices to enhance professional well-being, clinical performance, and patient outcomes.