Author: Komal Karim Essani, MScN student at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Agha Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan. She did her BSCN in 2019 from Aga Khan University School of Nursing, Karachi, Pakistan. Currently working as a Registered Nurse in Emergency and acute care at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi Pakistan.
Nursing is a noble and rewarding job that calls for commitment, compassion, and fortitude. However, it's widely recognized that nurses experience significant occupational stress since their jobs are so demanding. Every day, nurses deal with a range of stressful situations, the burden of being in charge of patients' life support treatment, lengthy work hours, and moral dilemmas make nursing a difficult career. Nursing professionals who work in hectic environments are frequently under a lot of stress, affecting their physical, mental, and social equilibrium as well as the quality of patient care they provide. In nursing, stress is inevitable, making its management essential. Fortunately, there are a few techniques that nurses may employ to handle stress in order to improve their overall well-being and stay active in their jobs.
Strategies include:
a) Self-Care: The health of others is frequently given priority by nurses, sometimes at the expense of their own self-care. In order to refuel and revitalize, nurses must regularly practice self-care. This might involve practices like working out, practicing meditation, getting enough sleep, and following a healthy diet.
Foster Better Communication: Building an effective support system through better communication is crucial for nurses to handle the difficulties they encounter. This may entail asking for assistance from close relatives, close friends, or coworkers.
Take Time to Recharge: Nurses may schedule a time to relax and recover after extremely long shifts or stressful work weeks. This may mean staying up late, going for a stroll at a leisurely pace, or sipping tea while reading a good book.
d) Professional Growth: Investing in ongoing education and career development may provide nurses with more influence and boost their competence and confidence. Nurses can experience less stress by pursuing training opportunities, going to conferences, and remaining current with developments in healthcare. This can help nurses feel more in control of their work life. Other strategies include maintaining a healthy diet during regular breaks, creating healthy work environments, and utilizing bodily activities in daily life can be outlets for releasing bad emotions or stress that has built up.
Nurses may continue to deliver excellent care to their patients while preserving a better and more sustainable work-life balance by taking care of their own well-being. Nurse managers may also foster a culture that supports nurses' well-being and lessens the negative impacts of work-related stress by increasing management support, employee recognition policies, and relaxation techniques. Keep in mind that every nurse's route is distinct, therefore it's critical for nurses to identify the techniques and methods that suit them the most. Nurses may successfully lessen the impacts of professional stress and promote a happier and more rewarding nursing career by prioritizing their well-being and putting these self-help steps into place. Keep in mind that safeguarding oneself is not selfish; rather, it is a critical step in sustaining a robust and satisfying nursing profession.
References:
Veda A, Roy R. (2020). Occupational Stress Among Nurses: A Factorial Study with Special Reference to Indore City. Journal of Health Management. 2020;22(1):67-77. doi:10.1177/0972063420908392
Sharma, P., Davey, A., Davey, S., Shukla, A., Shrivastava, K., & Bansal, R. (2014). Occupational stress among staff nurses: Controlling the risk to health. Indian journal of occupational and environmental medicine, 18(2), 52–56. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5278.146890
Tsegaw, S., Getachew, Y., & Tegegne, B. (2022). Determinants of Work-Related Stress Among Nurses Working in Private and Public Hospitals in Dessie City, 2021: Comparative Cross-Sectional Study. Psychology research and behavior management, 15, 1823–1835. https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S372882
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