Importance of Self Care for Nurses

​Self Care Activities (ANA, 2019):

* Mindfulness/guided/Chakra meditation - increases focus, cognition, mood, brain function, gyrification, and decreases stress

* Music/art/pet therapy - most organizations have pets to visit for therapy

* Massage - relaxes large muscle groups

* Traditional Yoga - union of individual consciousness with supreme consciousness to self-realization

* Hypnotherapy - alterations in perception, sensation, emotion, thought, and/or behavior

* Guided Imagery - relaxation and mental visualization to improve mood and/or physical well-being 

* Acupuncture - helps to relieve stress, and address body, mind, emotions and spirit  

What can we do to destress at work?

1.   Eat a well balanced diet to provide energy on shift
2.   Take adequate breaks to allow time for regrouping
3.   Go for a walk 
4.   Go off the unit and use the stairs
5.   Meditate
6.   Talk to someone
7.   Try aromatherapy
8.   Get adequate sleep
9.   Manage work life and home life
10.   Avoid vending machines and pack healthy snacks for the day

* The priority for self-care is to provide safety for patients and avoid burn-out. *  

Along with ideas that nurses can do to promote their self-care, nurse managers play a major role as well in the attitude and morale of a unit. It is their obligation to be cognizant and accepting of nurse practices that ensure patient safety by being present for their nursing staff in time of need. For more ideas on what you, the nurse manager, can do to help alleviate stress within your team, encourage self-care, and retain nurses, click on the link below titled..."Nurse Manager Awareness".

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