Which career comes to your mind when you think about professionals prone to burnout? Most people would answer as nurses. Nurses are the warriors who often put in double shifts and strive to provide patients with the best service. Their job is far from a piece of cake as they have to look after multiple tasks that require them to run here and there. Aside from physical exhaustion, nurses’ job is mentally draining and stressful. Nurses deal with the most significant aspect of human lives; health, stress, and anxiety can negatively impact their performance.
Long-term stress results in mental exhaustion leading to a reduced feeling of depersonalization and personal accomplishment. Additionally, it affects nurses’psychological and physical health affecting their professional efficiency. Nurses generally do not get breaks and often have to work all year round, increasing their anxiety. Nurses’ stress has been one of the overlooked factors, but recently healthcare practitioners have started acknowledging it. Many nurses come into the profession because they find their true calling and are passionate about their careers. They actively search for tips and tricks that can help them keep them manage their stress.
Today, it is practically impossible to lead a stress-free life, but people must learn to handle their anxiety. A few tips that can assist nurses in keeping stress at bay are as follows:
- Follow a Healthy Routine
Nurses do not need someone to inform them about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle as they are aware of it. Still, sometimes prolong working hours make it difficult for them to incorporate exercise sessions in their routines. They find ordering food convenient and often consume processed or fried food. An unhealthy diet adds up anxiety and makes them lazy. Nurses must replace harmful food items with healthy meals and include physical activities in their weekly routine. A healthy lifestyle helps in managing stress and enables nurses to perform proficiently.
Many nurse practitioners strive to earn higher degrees to equip themselves with advanced skills and enhance earning opportunities. Even studying online requires energy and time, and following a healthy routine helps them achieve a degree with a job. With a proper structured healthy routine, they can opt for MSN to DNP programs online and advance their career by gaining in-depth insight into nursing.
- Prefer Self-care
Most nurses are empathetic and put themselves at the backend to provide service to patients. Nurses need to understand that they cannot pour from an empty cup. Taking care of own self is far from selfish, and one should not feel guilty about it. They must ask for leave or breaks if they feel they are not feeling well. They should take care of their diet and must ensure that they eat on time. Many nurses struggle in saying no and are ready to step in whenever anyone needs them. They should have confidence in their ‘no’ and should be aware of their limits. Nurses must realize that they have limitations, and exhausting themselves will cloud their assessment abilities and add to their stress.
- Structure your Routine with Breaks
Nurses work for continuous hours without taking breaks. Their job exposes them to all kinds of situations. They often deal with cases that affect their mental and emotional health. Nurses should prioritize themselves and structure their day with breaks. They must incorporate snack time, beverage time, and little breaks in their day as it helps them keep going. Brilliant nurses understand that working straight for eight to nine hours with full concertation is stressful. Instead, taking short breaks during work helps them re-energize and focus better on their jobs.
- Spend Time in Hobbies
Most nurses are passionate about their careers and like to serve patients. Sometimes they do not realize that they dedicate their whole day to professional life and do not spend time in leisure activities. They must understand that hobbies help them stay active and give them a sense of accomplishment. Nurses should take the reins of their daily routine in their hands and structure it in such ways that enable them to indulge in their favorite activities. Incorporating me-time where they do not think about work enhances builds better mental health and improves focus and concertation, resulting in better productivity.
- Spend Time in Nature
Nature has excellent characteristics and has proven to affect mental health positively. Many nurses have busy days, and they stay indoors for long hours. They must strive to spend few minutes in sunlight or greenery as it helps them relieve anxiety and lift their spirits. Nurses can take a few minutes’ walks in the woods or, if weather permits, sit on a bench in the open air for some time. Furthermore, many nurses have vitamin D deficiency, which affects their mental wellbeing and increases stress. Sunlight is the best source of vitamin D, and a few minutes can have remarkable effects on nurses’ mental wellbeing.
Conclusion
Stress is an inevitable part of nurses’ lives, but prolonged stress is alarming andmakes them demotivated. Nurses need to demonstrate the presence of mind and be keenly observant in their day-to-day life. Besides, nurses often have to make critical decisions, and the inability to take timely action can exacerbate patients’ conditions. Work-life stress is a vital part of professional life, but some people find themselves unable to endure it. Since nurses work for long hours, their professional life adds to their anxiety. Taking care of health and prioritizing own mental wellbeing are coping strategies and help nurses deal with burnout. Nurses’ primary objective is to help patients heal, and continuous stress affects their efficiency. They must strive to keep their stress at bay and not let their psychological health hinder their performance.
