Incorporating Self-Care for Nurses

Self-care is an essential element for everyone to incorporate, regardless of their career. For nurses, it is crucial due to the intensity and stress of the job. Nurses work long shifts caring for patients and are driven by empathy, but they often forget to show themselves the same care they show others.

At Concordia University Irvine, we prioritize self-care for nurses and future nurses who enroll in our Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program. Read on to learn a few nursing self-care practices and how the ABSN program at Concordia lays the groundwork for a successful, lasting nursing career.

Why is Self-Care in Nursing Important?

Self-care is all about establishing practices to care for your emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual self. While self-care is vital to one’s overall well-being in any vocation, the importance of self-care for nurses has become increasingly evident in recent years.

A 2022 study demonstrated that approximately two-thirds of nurses experience extreme burnout. A survey conducted by the American Nurses Foundation also found that 19% of nurses consider their emotional well-being to be unhealthy or very unhealthy, and 66% report feeling consistently stressed.

For prospective nurses, this can seem intimidating. But you shouldn’t be discouraged from pursuing your dreams in nursing. Self-care is essential in decreasing stress levels and is included in the American Nurses Association’s Nursing Code of Ethics. Aside from the immediate benefits of stress relief, self-care increases the likelihood you will have a rewarding, long-lasting career as a nurse.

Tips for Self-Care

You may wonder how to apply self-care to your life practically. Self-care in nursing is unique from other careers. Because nurses deal with physical, highly stressful situations daily, they need to care for themselves in a way that helps them begin each work day fully prepared. Here are a few tips for incorporating self-care into your life as a nurse.

1. Stay Active

With long days on your feet, it can be challenging to feel motivated to stay active, but it is vital to find variation in your physical activities throughout the week. For some, this might look like starting a gym membership, lifting weights, and going on runs. For others, it might be an opportunity to pursue hobbies like rock climbing, golfing, or hiking. Maybe you don’t have time for any of those things and are looking for a habit that is a little more manageable. 

Start your day with a short walk or yoga practice to increase mobility. Whatever physical activity you prefer, include it in your daily routine to give your body the extra support it needs to handle life as a nurse.

2. Get Enough Sleep

As a nurse, you may face 12-hour and overnight shifts. With a lack of consistency in the day-to-day, it might be tempting to push through when faced with these challenges. 

However, according to the National Institute of Health, lack of sleep can deplete your problem-solving abilities and overall brain function. This can affect your work as a nurse, so getting enough sleep should never be overlooked. 

If getting enough sleep is difficult, try scheduling it into your week. Plan with your shift schedule and block out time for rest and sleep. You should try to keep this as consistent as possible. Make sure to put your phone away and give your eyes a break to ensure you are not just sleeping but getting quality sleep.

3. Nourish Your Body Well

Hospitals are fast-paced and nurses must be fueled throughout their day. This means eating enough calories to power your body and choosing food that will give you sustained energy.

If you are looking for ideas, give meal prepping a try. Maybe your weekdays are too busy to pack lunch, so you pack containers of food over the weekend to freeze and take with you to work. You may prefer to pack a meal the night before. Whatever works best for you, having forethought in your meals will help you be more intentional. 

Also, make sure your diet is sustainable for you. If vegetables don’t get you excited for lunch, try adding nutrients and fiber in creative ways catered to your preferences.

4. Care for Your Mental Health

The pressure put on nurses is high. Since COVID-19, the nursing industry has faced high burnout rates, and many hospitals are perpetually understaffed. Some nurses witness trauma regularly. These factors can eventually accumulate and cause anxiety and depression. 

With the significant mental burden on nurses, caring for your mental health is central to your long-term success in the field. Establishing healthy coping mechanisms and stress management habits will determine the trajectory of your overall health. 

Concordia’s ABSN students receive 24/7 access to TimelyCare, a virtual health and well-being platform designed specifically for college students. These services include an on-demand emotional support service to discuss anything from anxiety and relationships to depression and school-related stressors as well as access to scheduled counseling and self-care content. 

[CALLOUT: Learn about alumnus Stephanie Woods’ experience managing her mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic.]

Therapy is a helpful tool for anyone in a high-stress job like nursing. Your therapist can provide a professional perspective as you process traumatic incidents, and they can help you learn to incorporate healthy responses in your daily life. If therapy isn’t an option for you, try out practices like journaling and meditation. These can help slow down your thoughts and help you think more clearly about what is occupying your mind. 

If you have felt too attached to technology lately, put down your phone for an afternoon and take it slow. Delete social media apps that bring you down or consume your time. These strategies can impact how you respond to stress and help you snap back quicker.

5. Nourish Your Spirit

Nurses consider the whole person to support healthy outcomes in their patients. The same is true for themselves. Engaging in practices that address your spiritual and emotional health not only improves your outlook but can help you recharge the empathy required for day-to-day interactions with patients. 

Cultivating healthy spiritual practices offers several benefits, including reducing stress, opportunities to participate with a community, and bolstering your faith life. 

Whether you prefer individual spiritual practices such as prayer, mediation, and spiritual study, or take advantage of worship services and group activities within a community of faith, time devoted to caring for your spiritual self reaps benefits for your overall well-being.  

6. Don’t Neglect Your Social Life

After a long shift, you may feel the urge to shelter at home and recharge. While resting is extremely important, part of self-care is getting out and spending time with loved ones. Isolation can wear heavily on your emotional and mental health. 

Nurses spend long hours caring for patients without receiving much care themselves. Surround yourself with people who are invested in your life so you don’t come to work emotionally depleted.

Make sure to occasionally go out and spend time somewhere that isn’t work or home. Grab breakfast with a friend or join them on a walk through the park. Visit a family member to catch up or help a friend with a household project. If budgeting is a factor, invite someone over for a quiet dinner at home. 

Perhaps you prefer one-on-one time, or you are an extrovert who loves crowds. Find what satisfies your need for social connection, and maintain that in your life.

How the ABSN Program at Concordia University Irvine Can Help

A career in nursing is within reach. Concordia University’s ABSN program equips you with a solid knowledge base through classes, simulation labs, and clinicals to help you begin practicing applying these techniques of self-care for nurses in hands-on situations. 

Our ABSN offers two program options to best support students’ needs: a campus-based program in Irvine, California and a hybrid program in Rancho Cucamonga, California. The campus-based program delivers all coursework and practical experiences in person, providing a traditional, immersive learning environment.

In contrast, our hybrid program combines the flexibility of online coursework while still incorporating essential in-person elements, such as testing, labs, simulations, and clinicals. Whichever option you choose, you will gain the same comprehensive education needed for a nursing career.

[CALLOUT Is online nursing school right for you? Learn how to become a nurse online with Concordia ABSN.]

So, are you ready to become a nurse in as few as 15 months (not including any necessary prereqs)? Contact an admissions counselor today to begin the conversation.