After going through years of caffeine-fueled nights and late study sessions, you finally clear your board exams and get those letters prefixed with your name. Studying for a nursing degree is challenging, but practicing and proving yourself as the most competent one out there is even harder!
Nurses make up the backbone of our healthcare system, not just in theory but also practically. It is a field that is undoubtedly just as demanding and as rewarding. The long shifts, night calls, and running between wards making sure all patients are taken care of; this job is no piece of cake.
However, to meet the expectations of this demanding career, we have to make sure you fulfill your own body’s demands too. It is dangerous because nurses who do not look after themselves have higher patient falls, medication errors, and low-quality work skills. Neglecting these needs will make your patients vulnerable to several threats aside from the adverse effects on you.
To sidestep these detrimental effects, we have provided a few tips that may help you take proper care of yourself while you save the world.
- PRIORITIZE YOUR MENTAL HEALTH
Prioritizing your mental health and cognitively strengthening yourself sounds a bit challenging. But do you know that mental health helps nurses intellectually? You might be able to make better patient care decisions and focus better with a relaxed mind. Therefore, take out time to expand your existing knowledge. It will help you get insight into things outside bed care and boost your confidence.
You can stimulate your mind by taking training programs at work or doing online BSN courses that will help you learn the latest in nursing and open avenues for you to assume higher roles. Other ways to relax your mind could be meditation, solving crossword puzzles, or joining a book club. Moreover, don’t forget to take a breather after a long and tiring day.
- KEEP A CHECK ON YOUR PHYSICAL HEALTH
Nursing requires you to be on your toes- quite literally. With such a busy schedule, it is hard to take out time to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. However, taking no breaks or having no stress relievers, e.g., exercise, running, or yoga, can lead to burnout. You can increase your activity level by parking your car farther away from the building or walking around the hallways while on break. Invest in comfortable shoes with supportive insoles.
But this is not enough. As a healthcare worker, you are making yourself vulnerable to health hazards. Make sure to keep all your vaccinations up to date. Try to get your health screening done promptly after every suspected exposure. While you are at it, make sure you are eating clean as well.
- HAVE A GOOD SOCIAL LIFE
Community and connections are essential for nurses. Not many recognize the importance of having a social life to maintain sanity as nurses do. You could try to have good relationships with your fellow workers as it will help you build a comfortable workplace.
Try to interact more with colleagues and other staff members during breaks or catch up with them over the weekend. It will make you feel safe, knowing you can rely on people or have someone to relax with after an exhausting day at work.
- PROFESSIONALISM
To an extent, your overall well-being is dependent on your professional health. It is in the form of your professional development in the workplace that prevents career stagnation and burnout. Try to stay calm and composed at work, offer help to cover patients during other nurses’ breaks, and show respect to everyone- patients and workers.
Having your professional life on track plays a role in your soundness! It is not all about your conduct in professionalism, but your appearance makes a difference. Dress up sharp; wear a neat and ironed set of scrubs and have an organized work bag with all the examination tools that come in handy.
- STAY OPTIMISTIC
Having a positive outlook helps you tackle a lot of problems in life. As a new nurse, you will come across all sorts of patients and case scenarios. The sudden workload, not getting lab results, and dealing with non-compliant patients will give you a lot of anxiety. A positive attitude with some patience will keep you going. However, a negative mindset will eventually rub off on your patients and coworkers. Try to focus more on appreciation, interact with people who bring positive energy, and use it as your driving force at work. Avoid whining because it is not the best pursuit for a newly hired nurse.
- STAY UP TO DATE
The field of medicine is growing as new research and cutting-edge technologies are dropping in. Fresh graduates struggle in their first jobs, as they find many challenging cases they weren’t prepared for.
As a new nurse, take advantage of all the learning opportunities that come your way. Conferences, posting to remote areas, or exploring new software- you should say YES to all. Whether you are a newbie or experienced at your job, strive to learn more. With this initiative in mind, you can perform as best and efficiently as possible
- EMOTIONAL CARE
Nursing can be hard on your emotions. When you see patients getting better after you provide quality care, it will motivate you to work harder. At times, seeing patients suffer can affect your emotional well-being and work and home life.
In situations like these, you should make sure you have an outlet to express your emotions. Having hobbies, for example, drawing or playing music, will help you address and manage your emotions appropriately. While at work, try to have humored conversations, praise yourself, and take a break to have an internal dialogue.
CONCLUSION
Self-care is not a want but a necessity; it’s a duty you owe to yourself. It often gets hard to recognize your body’s needs when you are busy providing for your patients and families as your priority. But you can give the best care to those under your supervision when your emotional needs are fulfilled.
Do not let stress pile up. Take a moment to step back, compose yourself, and exercise regularly.
