Are nurses taking care of themselves? From personal experience, I would say, “absolutely not”. Looking back, I believe one of the main reasons for leaving bedside nursing and advancing my career as a nurse practitioner would be lack of self-care.
I began my career as a “charge” nurse (a.k.a. RN) over a medical surgical unit in a small hospital. I was eager and naïve and did not appreciate the gravity of the situation. I was a twenty something year old with no experience in life or nursing who was given a tremendous responsibility over patients, staff, and myself. The latter was not a priority for me at that time.
I would work long hours without breaks and think nothing of it because my coworkers were doing the same. I was so overwhelmed that most of my nights were spent thinking about the things I could have done better while attempting to recall the things I may have forgotten to do during my shift. Often, sometimes too often, I made late calls to the night nurses regarding forgotten tasks or vital information accidentally omitted from report. Nursing had made me an insomniac.
As years passed, insomnia was not the only issue I had acquired. I became aware of a nagging pain in my back and hip radiating down my leg which was later diagnosed as sciatica. Naturally, I was noncompliant with stretching and NSAIDs as prescribed. Instead, I continued to work long hours as my symptoms worsened. On many days, by the end of my shift, I struggled to ambulate. Somehow, I would manage to get in my car, sit for 45 minutes while I drove home at which time my husband would come get me out of the car and carry me into the house. Only to get up the next morning and do it all over again.
Not only was I having musculoskeletal problems and insomnia, but I also began getting severe headaches. Usually, around 11 am on workdays for some unknown reason. After a thorough workup, I was diagnosed with migraine headaches and given a prn triptan. Over the years, they became more frequent and stress appeared to be a trigger. Even knowing that, I did not seek treatment to relieve stress nor did I cut back on hours or ask for a transfer.
Of course, these ailments are not unique to nursing, but the type of physical and psychological stress this career comprises, symptoms such as these are inevitable. And the way in which we manage them will affect our performance and longevity as providers. Therefore, it is of the upmost importance that nurses care for themselves while caring for others.
So…
Be your BEST self: Be better, Eat well, Sleep well, and Talk often.
Be better and participate in those healthy habits that you would recommend for your patients. If you are promoting weight loss and smoking cessation, then make those changes in your own life. You will be a more effective care provider as you nurture trust and connect with patients through shared life experiences.
Eat well. There is a lot of information out there regarding diet. However, stick to what you know to be healthy and go from there. We all know it is best to minimize processed foods and red meat while moderating carbohydrates and eating more fruits and vegetables. Try not to do fad diets unless you have thoroughly researched the data and determine them to be safe.
Sleep well. This is the most challenging for me. I do take an over the counter sleeping aid for those nights I cannot fall asleep. However, I also try sleep hygiene techniques that I review with my patients: only use your bed for sleep; keep your bedroom quiet and dark (other than a nightlight to get to the bathroom safely); do not exercise before bed; do not eat carbs before bed; and do not drink caffeine, or excessive fluids before bed.
And finally, talk often. We are nurses, not saints and venting is a must. It is not going to be pretty and may not be politically correct therefore find someone you trust and completely let go for a few moments. For those who have no one trustworthy, try journaling. I use my husband as a sounding board, but I also run which relieves some tension as I work through conflicts in my head. Whatever works, find it and do it.
It has been said, “nurses make the worst patients”. That does not have to be a true statement. As the ultimate multitaskers, nurses can care for themselves as they care for others.
Be your BEST self!
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