Ways to cope with NURSE BURNOUT
May 12, 2020Nursing is a profession that is very rewarding yet very stressful. You may work long hours and never get a break. You may be in over your head in charting due to your patient load or the aquity of the patients you have for the day. At the end of your day you may be emotionally and physically exhausted.
It can cause you to start to feel nurse burnout.
Some ways to cope with feeling burned out in your job:
- Invest in self care (massage, facials, nails done, yoga, meditation, journaling, new hobby)
- Leave your work at work. (Don't bring it home to your family, vent to a co-worker)
- Seek help (ask for time off, see a therapist, or even workout)
- Join a support group or create one yourself
- Accept the fact that you don't have to stay in your current nursing job for the rest of your life. (It is ok to change your career to find a healthier one for you)
Here are some ways to relieve stress and anxiety by going outside:
- It will improve short term memory
- Restore mental energy
- Stress relief
- Reduced inflammation
- Better vision
- Improved concentration
- Sharper thinking and creativity
- Possible anti-cancer effects
- Immune system boost
- Improved mental health
- Reduced risk of early death
Self care for NURSES:
- Grab your favorite coffee
- Read a book
- Listen to a podcast
- Get a manicure/pedicure
- Nexflix and chill
- Go for a walk
- Call a friend
- Journal
- Meditate
- Work on your online business
Just do what feels good to you. You may be mentally, physically, and emotionally drained after working your shift. I know this because I come home exhausted most days. My brain is usually fried, my back, hands, feet, and eyes may hurt. I don't have anything left to give to my family.
So as NURSES we must practice self care to lessen our stress, anxiety, and burn out. We want to be the BEST nurses that we can be while we are at our jobs. If we do not take care of ourselves first, our patients will be affected. They will notice how drained we are. They will see. Trust me. They know. The truth is, self care may look different to each of us, there is no one size fits all formula.
What do you do for self care?
Are you still drained no matter how much self care you do? Maybe it is time to INVEST in yourself. Maybe it is time for a change? I have a course called The Burntout Rx program for nurses that are burned out and want to create their own online courses or business so they can become their own boss and ditch bedside nursing. If this sounds like you... click here for more info.
xoxo,
Nancy
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