Nurses’ self-care begins with support from leaders

“Nurses are trained to provide compassionate care to patients, but we are not trained in the compassion that comes with caring for ourselves,” says Pam Ressler, MS, RN, HNB-BC, founding father of StressResources.com in Concord, Massachusetts .

Over the past two years, the Covid-19 pandemic has hit nurses particularly hard. A recent study by American Nurses Association (ANA) found that one in three nurses admitted they didn’t feel emotionally healthy. Most reported feeling stressed (75%), frustrated (69%), and overwhelmed (62%).

In a press release, Kate Judge, executive director of the ANA, said: “The data collected in this study overwhelmingly demonstrate the need to provide consistent and comprehensive support to our nation’s nurses.”

Pam Ressler, RN Ressler agrees, noting that self-care must start at the highest and that nurse leaders should function role models for his or her employees by prioritizing their very own care and providing a supportive environment wherein nurses are encouraged to take regular breaks and lunches. Ressler commonly consults with health care leaders and others, teaching them how one can cultivate “sustainable immunity.”

“One way to achieve more balanced immunity is to cultivate mindful moments throughout the day,” Ressler said. “Look for beauty in your surroundings. One of my favorite quotes comes from the late creator Lisa Bonchek Adams, who said, “Find some beauty in today’s world. If you possibly can’t find it, create it.» “

: In their book, “People-Centered Leadership in Healthcare: The Evolution of a Revolution,” authors Lucy Leclerc, PhD, RN, NPD-BC; Kay Kennedy, DNP, RN, NEA-BC, CPHQ; and Susan Campis, MSN, RN, NE-BC, discuss people-centered leadership, a concept that puts people first by making employee well-being a priority. The three principles of human-centered leadership are empathy, sensitivity, and humility. Three nurses started a company uLeadership, which offers consulting, stationary and virtual workshops for nurses, including: “Caregiver Care: It All Starts with You.” “One thing we found in our research is that there is no leadership approach specific to health care,” Leclerc said. “We found that strong nursing leadership is based on self-care – nurse leaders advocate for self-care and encourage their nurses to do the same. This self-care then extends to their teams and ultimately to their patients. That’s why one of our slogans is: “It starts with you, but it’s not about you.” Leclerc said in a press release issued by Kennesaw State University. The book provides guidance for nurse leaders on the value of “starting with yourself,” which includes the practice of self-care, self-compassion, self-awareness, and mindfulness.

Ressler complete list ideas, from being gentle with your body to spending five minutes each morning doing gentle stretches or connecting with your breath. Nurse leaders can use this list to model staff self-care. Another idea: starting a short, reflective crafting practice such as doodling, coloring a mandala, or Pam’s favorite activity: writing Haiku every day. Ressler encourages nurses to choose one idea from the 1-5-7 plan and engage in it for 5 minutes a day, 7 days a week.

Xiomely Famighetti, RN

Xiomely Famighetti, RN, traveling intensive care nurse and author of the book book “Self-Care for Nurses: Over 100 Ways to Unwind, Reset and Wellness” and the @healthy.scrubs Instagram blog states that using positive self-care affirmations increases self-confidence and self-esteem while helping to control stress and anxiety. Here are some of Famighetti’s favorite self-care affirmations: I am strong enough to survive this change, I have sufficient competences to provide the best care to my patientsand I I want to prioritize my needs today.

: Audrey Auer, PhD, MSN, RN, director of nursing education services at Nightingale College in Salt Lake City, Utah, knows that when nurses work 12-hour shifts, planning a nutritious lunch can seem like another chore on the to-do list .

“There are many videos and websites on YouTube with simple, healthy recipes,” Auer said. “For example, make a homemade burrito by using a skillet to heat the tortilla, melt the cheese, and add cooked refried beans and vegetables.”

Audrey Auer, RN

Auer recommends finding four to five easy, nutritious recipes that can be prepared quickly and with ingredients on hand. You can also join the Instant Pot craze and find quick, easy, and nurse-approved recipes Here.

Knowing that nurses often don’t have time to fit yoga or meditation classes into their schedule, Ressler developed a free one series of meditations which can be done in 10 minutes or less. The meditations, titled “Nurses Pause with Pam,” cover topics such as mindful movement, compassion, stillness, and more.

One study encouraged leaders to consider workplace health programs for nurses, such as Ressler’s, that emphasize mindfulness-based stress reduction. These interventions were found to be helpful in improving self-care and reducing burnout among nurses.

Ressler says nurses can try to bring a little self-care into their workday with simple practices. “Even if it means taking an elevator or going down a few flights of stairs, take an intentional break where you step away from what you’re working on and disconnect for a few minutes,” she said.

Katrina Emory, clinical nurse practitioner at University of Utah Health, started Restorative Break Initiative, to help nurses get the breaks they deserve. This is an initiative that other nurses can implement in their own workplace.

Nurse leaders can also help their employees access counseling, employee assistance, and other programs if they are feeling stressed. Auer said Nightingale College has a full-time wellness coach who helps nurses deal with compassion fatigue while emphasizing the importance of self-care.

Auer notes that online support groups tailored to nurses’ needs can help relieve stress while interacting with others who understand what it’s like to be a nurse. Circles of compassionate listeningoffered by The Compassion Caravan, a national holistic nursing project, offers 60-minute virtual listening circles on various days and times. PeerRXMed is a free peer-to-peer support group started by a physician that provides support, encouragement, and resources to help healthcare professionals avoid burnout.

On a busy day, it’s easy to reach for salty chips or sweet candy from the vending machine, but while they may provide immediate satisfaction, they don’t provide lasting energy. “Come to work overprepared, with healthy foods and snacks, and a bottle of water to ensure you are properly hydrated,” Famighetti said. “Pack things like almonds and dark chocolate or apples and peanut butter, yogurt, fruit or chopped vegetables to make it easier to get through the day at work.”

One test found that workplace interventions for nurses that concentrate on physical activity, stress reduction, and weight-reduction plan will be effective without being costly or time-consuming.