INTRODUCTION:

Work is an activity to be able to meet the needs of every human life. Currently, many people are doing more work than they should or commonly referred to as overwork. The demands of a lot of work and the awareness and expectations of workers to get better treatment are some of the reasons for overwork.¹

Hustle culture refers to a work environment where productivity, ambition, and achievement are prioritised over relaxation, self-care, and work-life balance.²

Hustle culture promotes working long hours and placing professional achievement above all else. This culture is consistent with the nursing profession's intrinsic focus on devotion and self-sacrifice. However, the normalisation of overwork, along with nursing's emotionally and physically demanding nature, calls into doubt the mindset's long-term viability. With increased rates of burnout, mental health difficulties, and personnel shortages in healthcare, it is critical to investigate how hustling culture affects nurses and their capacity to offer effective treatment.³

Throughout healthcare systems, nurses are the mainstay and essential human resource, contributing significantly to the development of the global health scene. Therefore, focussing on and respecting their health and well-being will ensure the health of everyone on the planet.⁴

The Origins and Expansion of Hustle Culture in Nursing:

Hustle culture in nursing has evolved due to several factors:

1. Historical Expectations: Since ancient times, nursing has been linked to selflessness, devotion, and a steadfast commitment to patient care. Overworking is frequently exalted in this culture as a sign of professionalism⁵.

2. Workforce Shortages: Due to a lack of nurses worldwide, nurses are forced to work longer hours, which adds to their workload and increases the risk of burnout.⁶

3. Healthcare System Demands: Hospitals and healthcare institutions are under pressure to decrease costs and enhance efficiency, which results in increased workloads for nurses.⁷

4. Technological Integration: Digital health records, telemedicine, and 24-hour healthcare services instil a sense of perpetual availability, blurring work-life barriers.⁸

5. Social media and Peer Influence: Social media platforms highlight 'ideal' professionals in nursing who manage numerous responsibilities, perpetuating the hustle culture myth.⁹

Factors Contributing to Hustle Culture in Nursing:

Organizational Factors:

· To minimise expenses, hospitals operate with inadequate staffing, requiring current nurses to work excessively long hours.¹⁰

· Due to staff shortages, several institutions compel nurses to work longer shifts.¹¹

· Overwork is exacerbated by limited mental health resources, tight work schedules, and insufficient breaks.¹²

Personal and Social Factors:

· Professional Identity: Nurses frequently associate their self-worth with productivity and dedication, making it difficult to define work-life limits.¹³

· Social Expectations: Nursing is sometimes viewed as a 'calling' rather than a career, leading to unreasonable work demands.¹⁴

· Economic Pressures: Nurses often work numerous jobs to meet financial necessities, perpetuating the culture of overwork.¹⁵

The Dark Side of Hustle Culture in Nursing:

A) Physical and Mental Health Issues:

· Burnout: Emotional exhaustion, depersonalisation, and a decrease in personal success.¹⁶

· Sleep Deprivation: Long shifts and inconsistent working hours disrupt circadian rhythms, causing persistent weariness.¹⁷

· Increased Risk of Chronic Illnesses: Stress-related problems such as hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and gastrointestinal issues are common among overworked nurses.¹⁸

· Mental Health Struggles: Work-related stress causes anxiety, despair, and emotional weariness.¹⁹

B) Impact on Patient Care:

· Medical Errors: Fatigue and stress increase the possibility of errors in medicine administration, paperwork, and key decision-making.²⁰

· Decreased Compassionate Care: Overworked nurses develop emotional detachment, which lowers the quality of nurse-patient interactions.²¹

· Compromised Patient Safety: Patient safety is jeopardised due to decreased awareness and impaired judgement.²²

C) Professional Consequences:

· High Turnover Rates: Burnout is a major reason why nurses quit their jobs, which makes the labour crisis worse.²³

· Decreased Job Satisfaction: Excessive stress might lower motivation and engagement levels.²⁴

· Reduced Career Longevity: Long-term exposure to hustle culture can lead to early retirement or career transfers into less demanding professions.²⁵

Hustle Culture in the Indian Nursing Context:

India faces unique challenges that contribute to hustle culture in nursing:

· Nurse-to-Patient Ratio: The WHO recommended ratio is 1:4 in general wards and 1:1 in ICUs, but India is experiencing a severe shortage, with ratios frequently reaching 1:10 or worse.²⁶

· Government vs. Private Sector: In order to maximise profit, private hospitals frequently demand excessive hours, whereas government hospitals are overworked.²⁷

· Migration and Brain Drain: Many qualified nurses travel to countries with higher income and working conditions, increasing the strain for those who remain.⁸

· Lack of Workplace Protections: Indian nurses frequently encounter salary delays, a lack of union support, and inadequate mental health support networks.⁹

Interventions in Other Countries:

United States:

· Magnet Recognition Program: Encourages healthcare organisations to enhance patient outcomes and nursing work conditions.³⁰

· Safe Staffing Laws: To lessen burnout, some states require nurse-patient ratios.³¹

United Kingdom:

· NHS Wellbeing Initiatives: Offer mental health care, flexible scheduling, and fair pay to prevent burnout.³²

Australia:

· Nurse-to-Patient Ratio Policies: Establishing rigorous standards to avoid understaffing and guarantee work-life balance.³³

Strategies to Mitigate Hustle Culture in Indian Nursing:

1) Institutional Reforms:

· Workforce Expansion: Addressing nurse shortages by implementing targeted recruitment campaigns, retention incentives, and improving workforce planning to maintain adequate staffing ratios.³⁴

· Flexible Work Arrangements: Implementing shift rearrangement, self-scheduling alternatives, and rotational shifts to promote work-life balance, particularly for female nurses who have dual obligations.³⁵

· Psychosocial Support Mechanisms: Incorporating hospital-based mental health initiatives, such as confidential counselling services, established peer support systems, and resilience-building programs.³⁶

· Merit-Based Recognition Systems: Developing structured career progression models that acknowledge professional contributions without reinforcing exploitative overwork cultures.²⁶

2) Policy-Level Interventions:

· Legislative Safeguards on Work Hours: A law that guarantees maximum hours of work for all workers, including entitlements to breaks, control on overtime in both public and private health establishments.²⁷

· Private Investment, including Community Partnerships: Direct investment in nursing education and workforce development through community partnerships, scholarships, and infrastructure.⁹

· Labor Rights and Compensation Policies: Lasting institutions and legal rights for nurses: ensuring that nurses are paid fairly, have job security and safe working conditions in all health care sectors.³⁹

3) Individual Coping Strategies:

· Integration of Traditional Stress Management Practices: Encouraging evidence-based approaches such as yoga, meditation, and mindfulness techniques, leveraging India's rich wellness heritage to enhance stress resilience.⁴⁰

· Empowerment through Professional Boundaries: Providing assertiveness training and ethical guidelines to enable nurses to establish and maintain professional boundaries without fear of workplace repercussions.⁴¹

· Fostering Collegial Support Networks: Promoting peer mentorship programs, professional associations, and structured platforms for experience-sharing and collective advocacy.⁴²

CONCLUSION:

While hustle culture promotes resilience and professional advancement in nursing, it also poses major hazards to nurses' well-being and the quality of care they offer. Healthcare organisations and nurse leaders must find a balance between fostering professional devotion and maintaining long-term workplace practices. By tackling the negative components of hustle culture, the nursing profession may foster an atmosphere in which nurses can thrive professionally and personally, eventually improving patient care and overall job satisfaction.

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Received on 04.01.2025 Revised on 07.03.2025

Accepted on 18.04.2025 Published on 21.05.2025

Available online from May 23, 2025

Int. J. of Advances in Nursing Management. 2025;13(2):134-137.

DOI: 10.52711/2454-2652.2025.00026

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