How To Handle Nursing Work Under Pressure
It’s no secret that nurses are accustomed to working under pressure. Not only can you face life-and-death situations on a daily basis, but you must also navigate interactions with overworked medical professionals and anxious patients and families. At Remede, we are committed to helping our nursing candidates deal with on-the-job pressures to achieve a greater work-life balance. Check out the following three tips for how to handle working under pressure.
Practice Self-Care
As a nurse, you may be tempted now and again to put the welfare of others ahead of your own. However, the truth is that nurses who don’t practice self-care have trouble taking care of those around them. To boost your performance on and off the job, endeavor to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night. We know it’s not easy, so try mediation or yoga to help you wind down. YouTube has so many free resources!
Additionally, nursing professionals should strive to eat healthy and exercise regularly. Celebrate little wins like a 10 minute walk on the stairs during a lunch break. By keeping your body in good shape, you can ensure you’ll be there to help patients and families for years to come.
Seek Out a Mentor
Front-line care for others can be incredibly stressful. Throw in overly long hours and difficult patient assignments, and many nurses find themselves on the verge of burnout within a few years. To avoid collapsing under the pressure, nurses should seek out mentors whom they can trust. Find someone who understands the stresses of the job and meet with them to share your concerns and frustrations. Use that time to also learn from their experience, understanding practices they use to deal with the work stresses and to find balance in their personal life. Want more tips on finding the right mentor, here’s a great resource from NursingWorld.Org.
Say No
Nurses are often big-hearted. You have to be to do this job! As a result, they may be hesitant to say no to requests from patients and supervisors. However, saying yes to that extra shift may cause more harm than good in the long run. Nurses who are tired and overstressed are more likely to make costly mistakes on the job. Over time, this can take a toll on both you and your patients, and even hurt your chances of advancing to a higher position. Don’t be afraid to say no once in a while if it means protecting your patients and your financial future.
Find Your Next Nursing Job with Remede
Based in Floral Park, Remede Consulting prides itself on helping nurses achieve a healthy work/life balance. There’s a reason the Joint Commission awarded us the Gold Seal of Approval® for healthcare staffing services. Call today and let Remede jumpstart your nursing job search.