Nurse practitioner burnout is an increasingly common issue in the modern healthcare system.
In fact, there is an ICD-10 code for burnout: Z73.0. This goes along with the other Z73 codes that relate to life management difficulty.
It’s pretty sad that there is an ICD-10 code for burnout. This means the issue is common enough to need a diagnosis code. And nurse practitioner burnout is definitely a common issue!
To understand the significance of having an ICD-10 code for burnout, let’s first look at how ICD-10 codes are created.
What are ICD-10 codes?
For nurse practitioners who don’t totally understand ICD-10 codes, here’s a little bit of background.
ICD-10 codes are part of the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10), which is a standardized system used for classifying and coding diseases, symptoms, abnormal findings, and other health-related conditions. These codes are used by healthcare professionals, including nurse practitioners, medical coders, and researchers, to accurately document and communicate diagnoses and procedures.
ICD-10 codes are alphanumeric codes that provide specific details about a patient’s condition. They are structured in a hierarchical manner, with different levels of specificity. The codes consist of three to seven characters, where each character represents a specific category or aspect of the condition being described.
Here’s a breakdown of the general structure of an ICD-10 code:
- Character 1: Represents the chapter of the ICD-10 classification. There are 21 chapters, each representing a different category of diseases or conditions.
- Characters 2 and 3: Indicate the category within a chapter. These characters narrow down the classification to a specific disease or condition group.
- Characters 4 to 6: Provide further details about the etiology, anatomical site, severity, or other relevant factors related to the condition.
- Character 7: Is an extension character used for laterality, if applicable, to specify which side of the body is affected.
The ICD-10 code for burnout is Z73.0, which falls into the life management difficulty section.
How are ICD-10 codes developed
ICD-10 codes are created and maintained by the World Health Organization (WHO). The process of developing and updating the codes involves input from healthcare experts, medical societies, and government agencies from around the world.
These experts contribute to the development of new codes, revisions of existing codes, and ensuring the system remains up to date with advancements in medical knowledge and technology.
The creation of new codes or modifications to existing codes is typically driven by the need to capture and accurately describe emerging diseases, conditions, treatments, and diagnostic methods. This process involves research, clinical studies, consultation with experts, and evaluation of existing evidence.
The proposed changes are reviewed, discussed, and approved through a collaborative process involving various committees and organizations before they are officially included in the ICD-10 classification.
Because the ICD-10 codes are created by the WHO, the codes are relevant throughout the whole world. Which makes an ICD-10 code for burnout such a significant issue.
ICD-10 code for burnout
The significance of needing an ICD-10 code for burnout is saddening. This goes to show that there are millions of people experiencing burnout. I have seen this to be true in my own work of coaching nurse practitioners. As The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner, I provide resources and support for nurse practitioners so they can create a better work-life balance and overcome burnout.
Here are a few quick ways to overcome nurse practitioner burnout.
- Self-Care Matters:
- Prioritize self-care by scheduling regular breaks during your shifts.
- Develop a healthy work-life balance to prevent professional responsibilities from overshadowing personal life.
- Engage in activities that bring you joy and relaxation outside of work.
- Establish Boundaries:
- Set clear boundaries regarding your working hours and stick to them.
- Learn to say ‘no’ when necessary and avoid taking on more responsibilities than you can handle.
- Seek Support:
- Connect with colleagues who may be experiencing similar challenges and share your thoughts and feelings.
- Utilize employee assistance programs or counseling services provided by your healthcare institution.
- Join the Burned-out Nurse Practitioner Facebook Group for support from equally burned-out nurse practitioners.
- Continuous Professional Networking:
- Meeting other nurse practitioners in similar settings can be helpful to know you are not the only one struggling with nurse practitioner burnout. Make sure to check out The STOP Charting at Home Membership for more support and community!
- Attend conferences, workshops, or seminars to network with other nurse practitioners and seek professional growth.
- Attend a Nurse Practitioner Association of Continuing Education (NPACE) in person conference to get continuing education but also meet other nurse practitioners. (Feel free to use coupon code: BURNEDOUTNP20 for 20% off any NPACE products. Learn more here).
- Reflect on Achievements:
- Regularly reflect on your accomplishments and the positive impact you have on patient outcomes.
- Celebrate small victories and recognize the value of your contributions to boost your morale.
- Mindfulness and Stress Reduction:
- Practice mindfulness techniques, such as meditation or deep breathing exercises, to manage stress.
- Identify and address sources of stress within your work environment.
- Regular Breaks and Vacation:
- Ensure you take breaks during your shifts to rest and recharge.
- Plan regular days off/vacations to disconnect from work and focus on your well-being.
- Take extended breaks if needed. I have worked with a few nurse practitioners who were granted 2-6 weeks off from their job because of the burnout. Ask your manager for extended time off if needed.
Use these tips to work towards overcoming nurse practitioner burnout. Also make sure to check out The Burned-out NP’s blog page for lots of helpful articles. Feel free to join the Burned-out Nurse Practitioner Facebook Group for support from equally burned-out nurse practitioners.
Burnout from excessive charting?
As The Nurse Practitioner Charting Coach, I have seen this time and time again. Nurse practitioner burnout is on the rise. The modern healthcare system pushes us to see more patients in a less amount of time. It is so difficult to get the full history of present illness, physical exam, diagnosis, treat, educate, and document in a 15 minute time frame.
This is why so many nurse practitioners end up charting at home, on nights and weekends. This significantly impacts their work-life balance as nurse practitioners often sacrifice time with family and friends. No wonder there is an ICD-10 code for burnout!
So many struggle with nurse practitioners burnout related to excessive charting. But the good thing is, if nurse practitioners can focus on improving the charting, they can overcome that burnout and create a better work-life balance. And this is what I do as The Nurse Practitioner Charting Coach!
I help overwhelmed NPs implement easy to use charting and time management tips so they can STOP charting at home!
Below are a few resources to help get you started!
The Nurse Practitioner Charting School website.
4 charting tips to get your time back get the free training here
Jumpstart list of smart phrases get the free list here
The Nurse Practitioner Charting School YouTube Channel
Erica D the NP Charting Coach on Instagram: @npchartingschool
I hope realizing there is an ICD-10 code for burnout helps you understand the significance of nurse practitioner burnout. Nurse practitioners participate very challenging work and we need them to continue. We need nurse practitioners to be at their best mentally, physically, emotionally so they can care for patients. We need nurse practitioners to stay in healthcare and advocate for our practice. We need nurse practitioners to be greater than needing an ICD-10 code for burnout.
For time management and charting tips, check out The Nurse Practitioner Charting School– The one stop for all documentation resources created specifically for nurse practitioners. Learn more at www.npchartingschool.com
**Full disclosure, this blog post may include affiliate links. I do receive a commission if any of the affiliate programs/services/supplies are purchased. This is at no extra cost to you but does allow me to continue to provide content as The Burned-out Nurse Practitioner! Thank you!
