As we approach nurses’ week, I want to offer you an opportunity to do something for yourself. As I continue to work with nurses, I keep hearing one theme that says we are so busy taking care of others and working that we neglect ourselves. It is so important that we learn to take care of ourselves. Just this month I had a nurse tell me that all she did was ‘go to work and sleep’? That was no time for anything else. When asked what she did to relax, she had no reply. Sadly this is a common scenario.
We forget that stress comes in many forms and that it can have a drastic effect on our health, both short and long term. There are people who believe that ‘control’ is a negative word and that no one can control another person. The literature suggests that nurses feel more stressed when they have limited control of their work environment. It is interesting that it is not the work that stresses the nurses but how they perceive the work. In other words their stress level is determined by their thinking is impacted by others. It is no so important to think about who controls us, but to explore and be receptive of how we can change our outlook about the stressors in our lives.
Are you ready to recognize what causes you to feel out of control, stressed, angry, or unsure about your future or do you believe that you are always at someone’s mercy? On May 10, 2016 at 6 PM (Central Time) Ames High will offer a free teleconference. The subject will be “Getting Unstuck and Moving On”. We will look at some areas in life that may be negatively effecting you and your future. We will also explore some strategies for more effective coping.
The call-in number is 1.641.715.3277 Access Code: 464925.
Wishing all nurses HAPPY NURSES WEEK and remember you can’t give your best to your patients if you are not at your best. Join us on May 10 for a discussion on stress.