5 Tips for Nurses to Maintain Their Wellness

Nurses are required in every healthcare facility. But due to nurse shortages, they are often required to perform the work of more than one individual. And their huge work pressure gives them no time for themselves. This lack of work-life balance in nurses’ lives results in causing severe mental health repercussions such as burnout. 

Nurse burnout is characterized by low self-esteem, frustration, stress, mental and physical fatigue, lack of interest in work, inability to put in effort, absenteeism, and so on. Research shows that nurse burnout directly impacts patient satisfaction and outcomes. Burned-out nurses lack compassion and tend to be rude. Patients don’t feel happy getting treatment from nurses who show signs of burnout. 

The root of the problem is nurses’ inability to care for themselves. Lack of opportunity or desire for self-care puts nurses on the brink of serious mental and physical health issues, as mentioned above. Therefore, hospital management and nurses must schedule their work and make necessary changes in their lives to prioritize self-care. Below are some tips for nurses to practice self-care to maintain their wellness. 

1. Keep your professional curiosity alive

We feel more depressed and disinterested in work in the absence of challenges. At the same time, the desire to learn more about your profession and attain new skills and education keeps your professional curiosity alive. It blows fresh air in your career, reduces monotony, and instills an aspiration to put in more effort. Curiosity to learn new things enhances your productivity; it helps you handle anxiety and stress. You start looking at your teething troubles as opportunities and demonstrate creative thinking. 

Pursuing higher education can keep your curiosity alive in a nursing career. While working in the hospital, you can register in an online DNP, MSN, or BSN program based on your last degree. 

DNP is the highest degree in nursing, which gives you an excellent opportunity to attain leadership positions. While MSN is also considered a terminal degree, a BSN is often the minimum requirement for working as a nurse. 

2. Incorporate healthy activities into your routine

The primary issue why many nurses don’t make time for self-care is because they think that it can only happen on an off day. While getting an off day and pampering yourself with indulgent spas is ideal, it is not always possible. If you wait for a special day to treat yourself, you may never find that opportunity. A more practical option is incorporating healthy lifestyle activities into your daily routine. 

You don’t need to overhaul your life overnight; taking small steps can help. Self-care in your daily routine is as easy as going for a walk with your pet, talking to your friends over video or audio calls, or enjoying a bubbling bath after a hectic day. These activities are not costly but have incredible positive mental and physical health effects. Whatever the activity, giving yourself a few minutes of “me-time” are enough. 

3. Commit to eating a balanced diet

Diet is essential for health and fitness. But a healthy diet is the department where nurses lag the most. While an occasional fast food treat might not be detrimental to your health, overreliance is bad. 

Munching on sugar and fatty snacks seems much easier than finding a peaceful corner for having a proper lunch. Therefore, during a busy shift, there are more chances that nurses will ignore their diet and rely more on unhealthy food. 

But the extent of physical and mental effort nurses put in to perform their job demands a proper diet that fulfills their dietary requirements. 

Instead of ordering precooked meals, they should bring their home-cooked lunch consisting of healthy portions of anti-oxidants, proteins, minerals, vitamins, fibers, etc. Fruits and vegetables are excellent and readily available sources of these nutrients. Add at least three vegetables and fruits to your daily diet; they can be added to sandwiches or salads. 

4. Don’t ignore the mandatory breaks

Taking breaks during a busy work day seems like a big and impossible demand. Nurses are often tending to multiple patients at a time. So, leaving work and taking a break is a no-no for every nurse dedicated to their job. 

But continuous work and no break can make you stressed. Overworking yourself and not taking breaks is also the reason you feel burned out. There is a time after which your body and brain stop performing to their full ability and demands break. 

The problem with stress is that it has a compounding effect. The more stressed you’re, the higher the chance of other stressors affecting you profoundly. Therefore, nurses need to understand that these breaks are for their and their patients’ benefit. 

Snatch a few minutes after every few hours of work during your shift to give your body the rest it requires. You can find an isolated corner, sit and relax for a few minutes. Or, you can go out in the open, spend some time in nature, absorb the natural scents in the air, and listen to birds chirping on the tree branches. 

When you return to work, you will not help but realize the boost in your mood, natural energy, and interest in work. Spending time in nature reduces stress, replenishes your natural energy, and makes you happy. 

5. Stay active the way you want

For some nurses, it is possible to attend the gym before or after their shift. Starting their day with a gym session makes them invigorated. 

But if you don’t like to go to the gym, you can choose a physical activity you enjoy. Instead of a sweaty gym session, you can exercise during shift breaks. Light to medium-intensity exercise is an excellent way to reduce fatigue and muscle cramps. 

If you live nearby, walk up to the hospital instead of using your vehicle. Similarly, make a round to the grocery store, buy fresh vegetables and fruits, and do grocery for one day only. This will increase your everyday word count and keep you healthy too.

Taking care of health and wellness is important for everyone, but it is more important for nurses. Firstly, no one knows more about the positive effect of healthy practices than nurses. Secondly, many others’ lives depend on nurses’ ability to perform their job effectively, which they can’t do with not so fit bodies and minds. Above are some easy ways nurses can keep themselves healthy and ensure their wellness.