Whether you are a registered nurse (RN), nursing student, or nursing assistant—it is likely you experience stress on the job. Extensive hours, fatigue, demanding patients, strain of being constantly on the move are a few ways to describe a day or week of work as a nurse. These types of conditions can really burden nurses with a cornucopia of pressure.
A nurse’s job can’t be completed without precision and accuracy. Nurses must possess top-notch organizational, time management, and communication skills. This is not a job that can be done partially. Nurses must come to work feeling like giving 100 percent and not being an idler. This profession can put an enormous amount of pressure on our nurses. The weight may be a leading factor in preventing the longing to pick up extra shifts or residing in the profession for a long time- hence the importance of relaxation and stress reduction. Without this, nurses become what is described as “burnt out”.
Tips To Reduce Stress During Work
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Here are several tips that can be used during work hours to help nurses get through their days with more ease:
- Take Breaks: Nurses often put caring for themselves by the wayside; however, this is one of the worst things you can do for your productivity as a nurse., Take breaks and get off the floor for lunch. Passing up breaks and lunches only adds to the tension and makes the day longer.
- Dress for Comfort: Dress comfortably during their shifts to allow for less strain during their medication passes and procedures. Comfortably fitting shoes that allow the nurse to make it through the day without any joints or muscle pain.
- Have a Good Support System: It’s no mystery that nurses can see some pretty tough situations throughout a given day; seeing patients plagued with ailments, incurable disease—or worst—death. Nurses should have a great support system during their day that they can rely on when the tough get going. Not working with a good team that interact as a team and help alleviate one nurse taking on too much and becoming overwhelmed, is a big stressor. Research confirms that primary nursing does result in a higher quality of nursing care than team nursing and that nurse retention is improved in primary nursing. In addition, this study shows that, both directly and indirectly, primary nursing reduces costs when compared to team nursing.
Tips to Reduce Stress after Work
After work, nurses should focus on types of relaxation techniques that work best for them.
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- Exercise. Stop at the gym after work and get in a good workout. Experts agree that one best way to manage stress is through exercise. Exercise has been proven to relax the body and mind, burn fat, improve cardiovascular system function, bring more oxygen, reduce the chance of diseases, lower blood pressure and the list goes on and on.
- Practice Holistic Medicine. Mediation, music therapy, message, aromatherapy and yoga are all great techniques to relieve stress as a nurse practitioner.
- Stay Active. Other techniques include swimming, resting, sipping hot tea or just spending time with your family can help ease the stress of your nursing career.
- Take the Day Off. We all need relaxation time and time for our bodies to recover from the over load endured as nurse. Taking that day off and using it to prepare yourself to return to work more laissez-faire and tolerant will help you be a better nurse and deal with co-workers, patients and families in a different light.
About the Author:
Renee F. Rodgers-Frank, RN, MSN, is a Full Time Faculty/Clinical Coordinator for the Nursing School at Rasmussen College at the Ocala, Florida college campus. Renee has worked in the field of Nursing for over 15 years. Renee also has a Specialization in Education from Walden University. She is currently pursuing her PhD Program in Education at Walden University.
