This is the third article in a series of blog posts centered around Nursing Wellbeing. Before you continue reading, be sure to click here to read about 'The Importance of Nursing Wellbeing'.
Successfully handling your emotional wellbeing can be made a lot simpler by compiling an easy checklist of tips that can be regularly assessed. The team at Nutrix Personnel are always looking for ways to help our nurses improve their overall wellbeing and this easy-to-follow list is a great starting point if you’re looking to improve on an emotional level.
The outlined tips and tricks look to help build resilience, become more mindful, deal with losses, strengthen relationships, and reduce stress levels. We recommend you prioritising one or two and doing a weekly assessment to track your progress.
#1 - Take time for yourself.
We appreciate our nurses have a lot of commitments outside of the workplace but it’s important to take time for yourself on a regular basis, giving yourself time to digest thoughts and slow down. Sometimes looking at ongoing problems or issues from a different angle can help and exploring your thoughts beliefs helps to shape your future life.
#2 – Be grateful for the things you have.
Learning to appreciate the things you have can make a real difference in your ability to adapt to difficult situations and build your overall resilience. Try to spend some time reflecting on everything you are grateful for and even share with your social connections. By telling someone what you do have, instead of what you don’t, you’ll learn to take value in everything you possess.
#3 – Minimise stress.
It’s totally normal to feel stressed from time to time, especially if you’re an agency nurse working in an A&E, ICU, or other heavily pressurised ward. Stress can be a positive thing in short bursts and help to give us a rush of energy that can push us over the finish line. Long-lasting stress, however, is harmful and learning to manage your stress is hugely important.
One way of minimising stress is by having a clear plan and listing priorities in order of importance. Tackle urgent tasks first and leave smaller jobs to later in the day. Regular exercise is helpful for releasing stress but having a positive working environment can make the big difference. Know when and if you can lean on your colleagues and don’t be afraid to show yourself some compassion from time to time.
#4 – Get quality sleep.
Sleep should be prioritised, not sacrificed. It has the biggest effect upon our physical and emotional wellbeing and is vital to your overall wellbeing. Set a consistent time for getting to bed and when you’re tired, try to sleep in a dark and quiet place. By taking the steps to ensure high quality sleep you will be able to focus more clearly and benefit from quicker reflexes and increased focus.
#5 – Learn how to cope with loss.
There’s no harder task in life than tackling the loss of a loved one. It’s a hugely overwhelming time and there’s no right or wrong way to mourn. It can be difficult to know exactly what is next in the healing process and sometimes it’s just a case of being patient. Mourning can be a long process and the support family and friends is hugely beneficial.
Practise healthy ways of dealing with loss such as talking to a caring friend or alternatively joining a grief support group. Don’t rush to make any immediate changes to your life as this tends to simply postpone your grief rather than tackling it. There’s no shame in considering professional support and talking to your doctor may be required if you’re struggling with any typical daily activities.
#6 – Prioritise communication.
When nurses are unhappy or struggling with emotional fatigue, focus is naturally inadvertent towards the patients and their overall satisfaction. Whilst this is understandable, the same level of attention should be placed on the well-being of nurses, and this is something Nutrix Personnel is so deeply passionate about doing.
We actively encourage our nurses to foster better communication, organise meetings with staff managers and regularly discuss their working conditions. Our team send out regular surveys to our nurses to assess their wellbeing and performance reviews can often be a key indicator of this. As a nurse, we encourage you to speak up on the daily demands you face to help prevent burnout and emotional stress.
The little steps help to make a big difference.
Improving your emotional wellbeing takes time and not feeling the immediate effects can be frustrating. It’s why we recommend tracking your progress, no matter how small, and celebrating the little wins, rather than the larger impacts. Nutrix Personnel have been promoting the wellbeing of our nurses since our foundation and are determined to help make a difference in the nursing space.
To read the next article in this series of blogs on wellbeing, click here or alternatively return to our News & Blog page.
