Author: Hafsa Aziz, MScN student at the School of Nursing and Midwifery Aga Khan University. Employed as a Nursing lecturer at the College of Nursing MMDC Multan. Also worked as a charge nurse in the private sector. Graduated from Nishter University.
Nurses are considered the backbone of the health care system. The nurses are involved in the treatment of every person and accept their duty instead of refraining from it. Nurses sprint in the direction of the fire. Nurses put on their gloves and deal with the sputum, the blood; bodily fluids, there is work to be done and nurses do it. Hospitals are important, no doubt, but nursing encompasses more than just departments like the ED, ICU, and medical or surgical departments. The nurse is an unquestionably prominent profession. However, nursing has certain obstacles in developing nations like ours, making it more difficult to deliver high-quality care and draw recruits to the field. The shortage of skilled nurses in the field is one of the profession's main problems. The WHO recommends a minimum of 2.5 nurses per one thousand individuals, however, Pakistan has a particularly acute nursing shortage with a ratio of only 1.5 nurses per thousand individuals. Nurses’ physical and mental health may suffer as a result of the tough job, erratic hours, and demanding position.
Being a nurse maintaining your health is as important as saving that of the patient. Even though nurses are care providers, they should still get support and care from others. Most nurses neglect their self-care while caring for patients and household duties. Nurses must put their own needs first.
Respect the promises you make to your family and yourself.
Define boundaries between your personal and professional lives.
Engage in activities that you like outside of nursing
Volunteer, pursue a hobby, schedule a "me-day," read a book, and make use of your free time.
Grow spiritually and practice it.
Enhance your knowledge and take steps to improve your future. Enroll in learning-based programs, do researches in related fields educate others.
These are some self-care tips even in times of shortage and excessive workload. But nurses can help each other by assistance.
As our country produces a large number of nurses each year but still has a drastic shortage of nurses in every related field. There could be many reasons behind this but the main focus should be the care of the care providers to make the field better. In conclusion, nurses need to take care of their health not only for themselves but for those also who are related to them. As nurses are the stem of our nation, they should understand their importance.
References
‘government designates 2019 as the year of Nurses’ (2019) The Express Tribune. Available at: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1970306/government-designates-2019-year-nurses.
Pakistan needs ‘a million more nurses’ (2019) The Express Tribune. Available at: https://tribune.com.pk/story/2039989/pakistan-needs-million-nurses.
Reporter, O.S. (2021) ‘Pakistan faces acute shortage of nurses, The Nation. Available at: https://www.nation.com.pk/12-May-2021/pakistan-faces-acute-shortage-of-nurses
Self-care for nurses: How to prioritize yourself when caring for others, (May 24, 2022). Spring Arbor University Online. Available at: https://online.arbor.edu/news/self-care-for-nurses.
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