7 Stress Management Techniques for Nurses

7 Stress Management Techniques for NursesStress is an ever-present buzzword in pretty much every industry, but it takes on especially sharp significance for those in the medical and nursing professions. Daryn Eller at Scrubs Mag has compiled some strategies for nurses to help them manage stress without feeling overwhelmed. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1472832388529-0) ) The consequences for losing the ability to manage stress are severe burning out and leaving the industry, substance abuse, chronic illness, neglecting self care, or evenmaking fatal errors. Be proactive about advocating for yourself, beginning with these basic approaches1. Take ControlStart by observing your daily routine objectively. What gives you energy, and what saps it? Can you structure your day or your approach to tasks to emphasize the ones that build you up, or at least balance them more effectively with the draining moments? Talk to your supervisor and your colleagues and see i f you have a counterpart you might be able to trade withthis step helps rebuild yoursense of agency, which alleviates that helpless, scrambling feeling.2. Keep PerspectiveStress in the field of nursing is unavoidableeven if you try to stay detached, there are peoples lives at stake So dont bottle up your emotions at workbreathe and talk and even write through them. This strategy may even be more useful for your life outside of work when you remember what the stakes at work are, interpersonal conflict or household issues seem lighter by comparison.3. Lighten UpWhether you burst into song like Julie Andrews or make inappropriate jokes to alleviate the tension, its important to let levity in when you can. Learn from your mistakes, and then let them roll off your shoulders. Carrying around guilt or shame will not make your job easier.4. Dont be a Hero (when it comes to overtime)While the opportunity to double your usual wages might be appealing, its crucial to remember that nursing is e xhausting physically and emotionally. There are legal maximums for a reason. Dont feel like you always have to be the one stepping up for extra shifts, and remember to compartmentalize and sign off at the end of the day or night.5. Take BreaksMany nurses dont take breaksunless theyre smokers, which seems totally counterintuitive. Whether you treat yourself to a 15 minute non-smoking smoke break or just pause to close your eyes for a long slow breath between patient rooms, make aya you find moments to refresh yourself during the day. If you can manage even short workouts before or after work, even better.6. Live in the MomentAmbition can take us to exciting places, and nostalgia is always a bittersweet mental journey. But during your daily life, make sure you know right when and where you are. Dont be racing to the next thing or brooding on the last onelet go of past and future stress and work with whats facing you right there in that moment.7. Be Ready to Make ChangesIf you get to a point where you have to constantly reach for these coping strategies and more, it may be a sign youre in the wrong specialty, the wrong hospital, or the wrong doctors office. Be strategic about planning a move. Think about the kinds of places youd really want to work, and dont just restrict yourself to reading job postings or want ads. For other nurses, involving their families in their workor even just bringing them to the hospital to get a sense of what their daily experience iscan help build a more supportive family dynamic.The consistent thread in these tips is to know yourself, know what you need, and be empowered to advocate for yourself in large and small momentswhen you feel like youre overstressed. It will only help your work to have a revitalized version of you at work every day.

The Best Way to Recover Your Rep When You Lose Your Cool at Work

The Best Way to Recover Your Rep When You Lose Your Cool at Work It wasnt quite as bad as Joan Crawfords Mommy Dearest breakdown with her daughter, but Im not so aya my coworker didnt feel the saatkorn way that little girl did when I pulled her aside and raked her over the coals for a project that did not meet my expectations.Lets face it. We all get stressed. We all get emotional. Sometimes those feelings are tied to events in the workplace, and sometimes those feelings have everything to do with whats going on elsewhere in our lives. While most of us try and manage our stress or upset feelings with exercise, good music, diversion tactics and more, it is only human to have those feelings bubble up to the surface. And when they do, it is often difficult to manage how they will leak out. For some, it may be tears. For others, like me, it comes out as anger.Im sure I am not the only woman to lose her cool at work. Objectively, I know that emotional outbursts impact the culture of the o ffice. That said, who hasnt lost it at work at some point? Unfortunately, even one fit of rage can damage your reputation. Here are four steps to take to repair your street cred with coworkers if you do lose your cool.1. Apologize.Take responsibility for your behavior and say you are sorry, without pointing the finger at anyone but yourself and without expecting an apology in return. Owning your own behavior in an emotionally charged situation can go a long way in repairing relationships.2. Show remorse. True remorse is more than an apology. Take time to reflect on what happened and why it happened. Then, communicate your regret for the situation and your commitment to avoiding a similar outburst in the future.3. Attempt to repair.In the heat of the moment, we often say things we dont mean. Look for opportunities to regain that persons trust and rebuild their faith that you wont get angry like that again. People tend to be more forgiving if its an isolated incident. On the other han d, if you find yourself confronting these types of situations on a routine basis, it might be time to seek outside assistance. 4. Do not repeat.Not repeating the behavior is the best way to repair the long-term relationship. Work to re-establish your reputation as a confident, calm professional who is able to constructively manage potential breakdowns.Work outbursts are unfortunate. They hurt everyone involved. Understand that it takes time for wounds to heal. Dont be so quick to send flowers or make a call for happy hour on you a more meaningful apology, concerted efforts to repair the situation, and displaying behavior appropriate in the workplace will lead to healthier relationships in the future.--Tiffany Couch is the CEO and founder of Acuity Forensics, a forensic accounting and fraud investigation firm that helps unravel complex financial crimes.