StuffedNurse Guestpost: RELAXATION TIPS FOR NURSES

Relaxation Tips for Nurses

The nurse, by its job description, takes care of everyone else. You follow the demands of the physicians and the patients. It’s an endless cycle of care. You chose the profession because it called to you to help other people. It’s a noble and self-fulfilling job. But what happens when you need some help yourself. It can be difficult for a nurse to seek help, so they oftentimes find ways to help themselves. The job can run you ragged so you need to take care of yourself. Here are a few tips for how to cope with the rigors of the profession:

Return to nature. Being holed up in a hospital for interminable shift is an exhausting and draining experience. Take a walk during your break. When your shift is over and you have a day off take a ride into the country, away from the hustle and bustle of the hospital. Go to the beach for a day. Chances are your off day is in the middle of the week so the beaches are bound to be less crowded which can only aid your relaxation attempt.
Develop a support group. Most of your friends and family won’t understand all the pressures you encounter in a given day. Form a group of fellow nurses that can meet somewhat regularly around your ridiculous schedules and vent to each other. A nice bottle of wine is sure to help as well.
Tend to your children’s needs. When you come home from a shift it’s easy to plop down on the couch or, more likely, start cooking dinner and doing laundry. Before you do anything else, talk to your kids about their day and ask them questions. Don’t interrogate them; just let them know how important they are to you.
Exercise. There can be no better way to relieve pressure and stress than to exercise. It’s a liberating feeling. Whatever your preferred activity is – running, biking, swimming, etc. – make sure you set aside time for yourself each day. This will recharge your batteries and get you prepared for your next shift and keep you in a frame of mind that is needed to run your family.
Say no to overtime sometimes. Sure, you need the money and sometimes relish the overtime as backbreaking as it can be. Other times you probably feel bad for your fellow nurses that may be left short-staffed. This can’t be your concern; sometimes you need to do what is best for you and just finish your shift and go home!




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This post was contributed by Heather Johnson, who writes on the subject of Cruise Ship Nursing. She invites your feedback at heatherjohnson2323 at gmail dot com.