Nurses are right at the heart of patient care, dealing with the non-stop action and high demands of hospital life. They often work long shifts that push their medical know-how to the limit, all while taking a toll on their mental, emotional, and physical well-being. According to a survey by the American Nurses Association, 82% of nurses report significant workplace stress, underscoring the necessity of personal wellness practices.
Here are five must-have items for your locker that can help you find peace and keep you going during those intense shifts.
A Dose of Encouragement
Cracking open your locker to a burst of positivity can change your day. Keeping daily notes of encouragement in your personal space acts like a mini pep-talk. Whether it’s a motivating quote, a kind word from a patient, or a reminder of why you chose this noble profession, these little notes can provide a significant mental uplift. They serve as a tangible reminder that you’re making a difference, even on days when everything seems to spiral.
And here’s one more interesting spin on notes: notes of thankfulness.
Did you know that gratitude-even in the hardest of times, boosts mental health? About twenty years back, psychologist Robert A. Emmons led a groundbreaking study trying to figure out how saying “thanks” could be good for us, a topic that hadn’t been looked into much before.
What Dr. Emmons discovered was pretty amazing—it turns out that feeling grateful might make us happier on the inside. This sparked other researchers to dig deeper. What they found was pretty consistent: finding the good in our lives and showing gratitude to others doesn’t just boost our mood; it can also do wonders for our relationships. Plus, while it’s not a guarantee, some of these studies suggest that being thankful could also have some perks for our physical health.
Fuel for the Body
And speaking of physical health, nurses know better than anyone the importance of nourishment, but finding the time (and the right kind of food) to sustain energy throughout a shift is another story. Keeping a stash of healthy snacks that are gentle on digestion in your locker can be a lifesaver. Think about nuts, granola bars, or dried fruit—any tasty and gut-friendly snack that can give you a quick boost without weighing you down. Having these snacks ready means you can refuel on the go and get extra energy to face whatever your shift throws at you.
Emotional Anchors
A visual reminder of why you’re persevering can be incredibly powerful on particularly tough days. A recent study from psychologists at UCLA indicates that gazing at a picture or even merely thinking about someone close to you can lessen the sensation of pain. For this reason, a photograph of someone who inspires you or whom you deeply care about can act as an emotional anchor. It’s a personal touch amid the clinical surroundings that offers a momentary escape to happier thoughts and memories. This visual cue can help recenter your emotions, reminding you of the support system waiting for you and the personal motivations that drive you.
A Scent of Calm
The olfactory senses are directly linked to emotional centers in the brain, which makes them a powerful conduit for mood alteration. A discreet, comforting scent—think essential oil roll-ons like lavender or peppermint—can offer a moment of zen. During a quick break or a stressful moment, a whiff of your chosen scent can transport you to a more tranquil state of mind, ease stress, and boost your mood. Just remember to make sure the scent is subtle and workplace-appropriate, keeping in mind the sensitivity of patients and colleagues.
A Touch of Comfort
Lastly, always appreciate the power of tactile comfort. A soft, cozy sweater or scarf can feel like a warm hug on a tough day. The soft fabric against your skin can calm your nerves and make those long, stressful hours seem easier to handle. It’s like having a little bit of home you can wrap around yourself, giving you warmth and a comforting sense of safety and happiness.
In the end, turning a simple locker into a personal sanctuary stocked with these essentials is more than an act of self-care; it’s a strategy for resilience. For nurses navigating the heroic yet demanding healthcare journey, these items serve as tools for sustenance, comfort, and encouragement, empowering them to face each shift with renewed strength and dedication.
While rewarding, nursing is also incredibly demanding, and each shift requires hours of walking, standing, and moving from place to place. In short, the job requires that you have stamina and endurance. If you can’t keep up, then there are strategies you can try to regain your tenacity during those long shifts.
In addition to sleep and a proper work-life balance, another solution is to try out some high-adventure activities like surfing, skiing, and other exciting endeavors. These fun activities can help you relax during your off-time, and many can help during your shift. Here are some facts and tips to consider if you need a little pick-me-up at work.
Nursing Requires Stamina And Endurance
Nursing requires various physical demands, including mastering gross motor skills to move within confined spaces, maintain balance in awkward positions, and reach all directions. Physical strength is also required for lifting children, ambulating patients and supplies, and carrying or moving them around the hospital. All of that effort might be easy during a regular eight-hour shift. However, nurses often work double and even triple shifts.
Studies have shown that many nurses, especially those in emergency rooms and intensive care settings, take thousands of steps throughout the day. The studies also found that nurses who work during the day often take even more steps than nurses working at night. That’s impactful information, especially for nurses working day and night shifts without time off in between. Keeping that endurance for countless hours requires self-care; adventures during off-hours can help.
How High Adventure Hobbies Can Help
Long shifts are often required in nursing, and it’s not always easy to avoid them altogether. Still, during your off time, you should do things you enjoy. Luckily, many of the most fun activities can also help to build your endurance and stamina.
Surfing
Take surfing, which requires strength and patience to stay on the board as you cruise upon the waves. If you enjoy surfing, many exercises can help build your endurance in the ocean and during your nursing shift. One of them is running exercises, which help to improve your lung capacity and strengthen your legs. Push-ups are some of the best exercises nurses can get because they’ll help with your core strength on the surfboard and improve your upper body strength so you can lift that heavy equipment at the hospital for longer.
Skiing
Many nurses may want to hit the slopes and go skiing when winter comes. This activity requires training, and the exercises you use to prepare can also help in nursing. You’ll want a workout regime with a lot of cardio via running, the stair climber, and the elliptical trainer to succeed. All of that helps to condition your lungs and legs for a long day of skiing and being on your feet during a nursing shift. Some studies show that downhill skiing can be particularly helpful for your balance and posture, which can help when reaching and multitasking on the job.
ATV Riding
For a real rush, look around your town for a track where you can ride ATVs up ramps and through valleys. This is yet another activity that can help with endurance on the job. Riding an ATV requires a lot of lifting as you hold on and control the vehicle over rugged roads, and it builds stamina in your legs and arms. When you ride, you’ll feel it in your muscles, and the activity will strengthen them so you can go for longer while on the job. Studies have shown that riding ATVs and off-road motorcycles can improve isometric leg endurance and overall health.
Making Time For Hobbies
This information may seem all well and good, but taking the time to ride an ATV or surfboard with your busy nursing schedule may seem next to impossible. However, that’s only true if you let it be.
There are many ways to improve your work-life balance and make time to include hobbies in your busy lifestyle. A great way to help you say no and ensure you fit in your hobbies is to plan them. Pick a time you’ll go out with your friends and stick to it. Also, set realistic goals. So, if you want to ski for an hour to work on your legs for those longer shifts, plan accordingly.
You may want to work on your exercises but feel like you don’t have time to go to the gym. In that case, consider dedicating a space in your house to fit equipment and make room to stretch. If all else fails, your hospital or office may have a gym you can use.
Remember, your physical hobbies are not only for fun but also for your success on the job, so make them one of your priorities.
Conclusion
If you want to boost your stamina on the job, consider a high-adventure hobby that will help you let loose and improve your physical health. If you haven’t done anything exciting on your off-time, consider a change because the benefits can be great for your well-being.
Pets are known worldwide to make our lives better. They’re natural, cuddly stress relievers that can improve cardiovascular health and decrease loneliness.
That’s why it can be an excellent idea for nurses to adopt a pet of their own, especially if they’re experiencing anxiety, depression, or another mental health issue.
If you’re thinking, “But what if I’m not an animal person?” consider the different types of pets you can own besides cats and dogs. You might have some setbacks in deciding what type of pet is right for you and how much maintenance you’re willing to put in, but who knows? You might find that owning a pet that loves you is worth it.
Why Pets Can Make You Happier
Nurses know that burnout can happen on the job. Or, you might experience depression and anxiety outside of your career. However, caring for a pet can come with many benefits that can make your life feel brighter and fuller.
“They provide companionship, unconditional love, and a sense of purpose, which can be particularly beneficial for nurses working long, demanding shifts in the healthcare profession,” says Adam Zagha, a mental health and addiction treatment specialist and owner of Numa Recovery Centers.
In his experience, Zagha has even seen how pets can make a difference in those who struggle with common mental health conditions, causing burnout and loneliness.
“One of my clients, a nurse who works in an intensive care unit, was experiencing high levels of stress and emotional exhaustion. She decided to adopt a rescue cat and noticed an immediate improvement in her mood and overall well-being,” says Zagha. “The cat provided her with companionship during her downtime and gave her something to look forward to when she returned home from work.”
Caring for a pet can also bring stability outside of an unpredictable work routine, according to veterinarian Dr. Mollie Newton, founder of PetMeTwice. Pets can provide comfort and emotional support at home, encouraging nurses to destress and find peace.
Tips for Adopting and Caring for a Pet
Chances are you might be a dog lover. Or a cat lover. Maybe you’d prefer a pet with less hair and might adopt a hamster instead. Either way, no “one size fits all” pets work for everyone.
Dr. Newton suggests self-sufficient pets like cats or smaller pets like hamsters, guinea pigs, or fish for busy professionals. Consider common fish you can find at a pet shop, such as bettas, guppies, and zebrafish, that you would feed daily, with your biggest chore cleaning their fish tank.
Dogs and cats are usually the most popular choice for adoption because of their versatility.
“Cats are generally more independent, comfortable being alone for extended periods, and content with napping or watching the world from a window,” says Dr. Newton. “For those leaning towards dogs, adult dogs, particularly those with lower energy levels, can often adapt to solitude during your work hours, making them a suitable choice.”
Before adopting a pet, consider researching where to adopt and getting advice on caring for your type of pet so you know what to expect when dealing with any challenges.
“To get started with adopting a pet, nurses can reach out to their local animal shelters or rescue organizations,” says Zagha. “These organizations often have a variety of pets available for adoption and can guide pet care, including the specific needs of different breeds.”
Lastly, consider how much time and energy you have to care for a pet. Zagha mentions that being mindful of limitations and thinking about how much attention you can give off your job can help you decide whether to adopt. Other adoption factors include allergies, housing restrictions, and lifestyle.
Owning a pet isn’t just a walk in the park (literally)— there are factors to consider, such as paying a pet deposit or personal considerations, like if we want to walk your dog daily. Ask any pet owner, however, and you’ll get the same response. Caring for a pet can be worth it, especially during our low times when we can appreciate their loyal company.
Natural materials, indoor plants, and essential oils are simple yet effective ways to turn your home into a soothing and comfortable sanctuary. Even the simple addition of houseplants has been found to reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and improve overall state of mind. Unfortunately, chronic occupational stress and burnout occur daily among nurses due to long shifts, high workload, and low staffing levels, with difficulty relaxing and disconnecting from work being a key symptom, a study in Human Resources for Health reveals.
But here’s the good news: By transforming your home into a relaxing haven, you can facilitate stress reduction and mental and emotional rejuvenation after your shifts. And—in turn, you can prevent burnout and better navigate your demanding role with greater resilience and overall well-being.
Opt for Natural Materials
Natural materials like jute and sisal are minimally processed and low in toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds), improving indoor air quality. Incorporating natural materials into the home can enhance respiratory health and overall wellness for nurses, who often experience the physical and mental demands of long shifts.
Notably, almost 50% of homeowners say having natural materials instead of artificial materials makes them feel discernibly happier. Natural fiber rugs, in particular, can add warmth and texture to the floor and offer a plush surface for tired feet after a long shift. Jute (derived from the Corchorus plant) is soft, flexible, and feels like a dream under bare feet. As such, jute fiber rugs are an excellent choice for your bedroom, living room, or anywhere you walk barefoot or on the floor. It’s important to note, however, that heavy furniture does leave permanent dents if left standing on jute.
On the other hand, in high-traffic areas like your hallway or entryway, sisal fiber rugs are a great choice as they’re robust and resistant to wear while also being soft and comfortable. You’ll appreciate the soothing texture that greets you after a demanding day. Derived from the agave plant, sisal has coarser, straight fibers that are also relatively low-maintenance, requiring occasional vacuuming to keep clean. This simplicity is ideal for a tired nurse who may prefer easy-care furnishings, allowing you to focus on relaxation rather than upkeep.
Bring the Outdoors In
When nurses spend time in nature, they become less stressed, happier, and more relaxed, and provide patients with a better quality of care. Unfortunately, the nature of shift work often means you may not leave the building — or see the outside — for around eight to sixteen hours at a time. Yet, fortunately, even indoor plants have been found to impact stress and anxiety positively. So, when it comes to home interior design, bringing the outdoors in is one of the biggest trends right now, and the addition of indoor plants can successfully create a calming and peaceful ambiance in your home. Indoor plants also improve air quality, creating a healthier and more rejuvenating space. Fresher and cleaner indoor air can also help decrease stress levels, promote better respiratory health, and enhance overall well-being.
A peace lily is a great option when choosing indoor plants to add to your abode. With elegant, dark green leaves and pristine white blooms, peace lilies are beautiful and can add a touch of serenity to your space. They’re also air purifiers — proven to remove toxins, like benzene and trichloroethylene, commonly found in paint, varnish, adhesives, and synthetic fibers. Even better, peace lilies are low-maintenance, known for their resilience and adaptability, and require only infrequent watering.
The most appealing aspect of peace lilies is their smell — a soothing scent with calming properties similar to lavender. This relaxing scent can help create a stress-free home environment for nurses, improving mental and emotional well-being after demanding shifts.
Alternatively, snake plants also have powerful air purification properties that can keep your indoor air fresh and help you get a better night’s sleep. Unlike other plants, snake plants emit oxygen and absorb carbon dioxide at night through their unique process of CAM “Crassulacean acid metabolism” photosynthesis. Ideal for the bedroom, snake plants also come in sizes compact enough to fit snugly on your nightstand, where they can help create a conducive sleep environment. They’re also low-maintenance, requiring only occasional waterings — around every 10-14 days, but can go as long as three weeks between waterings. This ease of care ensures that nurses enjoy having a green companion in their living space without adding significant demands to their busy schedules.
Elevate Your Home Sanctuary with Essential Oil
Essential oils can also play a key role in creating a peaceful ambiance and soothing your mood and emotions. A study in the International Journal of Nurse Practitioners found that nurses who inhaled lavender oil throughout their shifts experienced less job-related stress than the control group. So, by infusing your home with lavender essential oil, you can successfully calm your nervous system, reduce stress and anxiety levels, and return to work refreshed and rejuvenated.
Reed diffusers, for instance, are a stylish and practical way to disperse essential oils into the air. At the same time, ceramic candle diffusers are just as effective and add a comforting, warm glow. In the bedroom, you can also sprinkle a few drops of lavender essential oil on the corners of your pillowcase. Lavender is known for its sleep-inducing properties, as it reduces anxiety and promotes relaxation. Creating a sleep-conducive environment can help ensure quality sleep, improve your mental and physical health, boost concentration, and enhance resilience to cope with the demands of your challenging profession.
As a hardworking nurse, your well-being is paramount, and you deserve a home sanctuary where you can relax and recharge after your shifts. Using natural materials, adding indoor plants, and diffusing essential oils are simple yet effective ways to build a soothing and comfortable haven tailored to your unique needs.
Healthcare professionals work tirelessly to provide care and support for their patients, often at the expense of their physical and mental well-being. It’s no secret that healthcare workers face high levels of stress, long hours, and emotionally charged situations daily. However, healthcare organizations must prioritize their employees’ mental health and wellness, not only for their well-being but also for the quality of care they provide to their patients.
Implementing mental health and wellness programs within healthcare organizations can go a long way in supporting the well-being of healthcare workers and ultimately lead to better patient outcomes. Below, we explore some programs and benefits that healthcare organizations can implement to help improve employee mental health and wellness.
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) provide confidential counseling and support services to healthcare workers dealing with personal or work-related challenges affecting their mental health. They cover stress management, substance abuse, and financial wellness. EAPs boost healthcare workers’ mental health and well-being, enabling them to manage stress, prevent burnout, and provide high-quality patient care.
However, promoting EAPs to reduce stigma and ensure accessibility can be challenging. EAPs are crucial for healthcare workers’ mental health and wellness programs, providing confidential counseling and support services to help them manage work-related challenges and improve their overall well-being.
Mindfulness and Meditation Programs
Mindfulness and meditation programs promote mental health and wellness among healthcare workers. These programs can take many forms, such as guided meditation sessions, and help healthcare workers manage stress and reduce anxiety. Developing mindfulness skills improves productivity and communication, and it reduces burnout risk.
Tailoring programs to meet the different needs of healthcare workers is a challenge. Mindfulness and meditation programs are essential for healthcare mental health and wellness programs. They improve healthcare workers’ stress management, productivity, and patient outcomes while reducing burnout risk.
Resilience Training
Resilience training is crucial for healthcare workers to manage stress and adapt to change. These programs can take many forms, such as workshops and online modules, and cover topics like stress management and mindfulness. Resilience training improves healthcare workers’ ability to handle stress, adapt to changing circumstances, and communicate better. This ultimately facilitates better workplace culture and patient outcomes.
A challenge is ensuring accessibility and relevance to all healthcare workers. Resilience training is essential to mental health and wellness programs for healthcare workers, enabling them to manage stress better, prevent burnout, and improve patient outcomes.
Peer Support Programs
Peer support programs offer a safe and confidential space for healthcare workers to discuss their challenges. These programs can take many forms, from informal networks to formalized support groups led by mental health professionals, and help address issues like burnout and compassion fatigue.
Peer support programs can reduce feelings of isolation, promote a compassionate workplace culture, and reduce stigma around mental health issues. One challenge is ensuring participants feel comfortable sharing their experiences. Providing training to support leaders and ensuring confidentiality can help.
Overall, peer support programs are essential to mental health and wellness programs for healthcare workers. They provide a supportive and confidential space for healthcare workers to connect with their peers, reduce feelings of isolation, and improve overall well-being.
Counseling and Therapy Services
Counseling and therapy services are crucial to healthcare workers’ mental health and wellness programs. They provide a confidential space for healthcare workers to address mental health challenges such as stress and burnout. These programs can be delivered in person or remotely, including one-on-one or group therapy sessions.
The benefits of counseling and therapy services include better stress management, burnout prevention, and improved mental health and well-being. They can also help reduce mental health issues’ stigma and promote a more supportive workplace culture.
However, one challenge is ensuring healthcare workers feel safe and comfortable seeking these services. Promoting the services and training supervisors and managers on supporting employees struggling with mental health challenges can help. Healthcare organizations can improve healthcare workers’ well-being and ultimately enhance patient outcomes by providing access to counseling and therapy services.
Quality of Life Programs
Quality-of-life programs are becoming increasingly popular among healthcare organizations to support their employees’ well-being. One such program is providing shuttles for healthcare workers, which can help to reduce the stress and time associated with getting to and from work.
Commuting can be hugely stressful for healthcare workers, particularly those working long shifts or navigating busy city streets. Providing a shuttle service can alleviate this stress and improve employees’ overall quality of life.
These programs are also essential for healthcare organizations to attract and retain top talent. These programs, designed to support the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of healthcare workers, lead to improved job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and better patient outcomes.
Such programs include flexible scheduling, on-site childcare, and continuing education opportunities. Implementing these programs requires time and resources, but the benefits are significant. By supporting the well-being of healthcare workers, organizations can improve employee satisfaction, reduce turnover and absenteeism, and ultimately provide better patient care.
Social media is everywhere now, but more often than not, we find ourselves trapped in reading negative news stories or following toxic accounts that make us feel frustrated about ourselves or the world around us.
It’s hard to unplug from social media, so why not follow nurses posting about their nursing journey?
Here are nurses’ social media accounts about humor, nursing, and mental health; you might find someone you can relate to or laugh with.
Nurse Kay @nurseewithsign
This nurse influencer is different from other social media influencers. Instead of posting content solely on lifestyle, Kay takes a different turn. In her scrubs, she goes to a different location in New York City and holds up signs about issues affecting nurses today. She’s brought attention to work-related exhaustion, ageism, low bonuses, and work-life balance, with her signs reading “It’s call out season” for National Nurses Week or “Compassion fatigue is real” about going to work tired and looking beyond her job to find joy.
Even though these issues may sound stressful to some, Kay also talks about encouraging, motivational topics like her “nurse squad” or job switching when your work environment isn’t a fit anymore. Anyone (not just nurses) can find her content inspirational if they’re going through stress and burnout and want to feel like they’re not alone. Find her on Instagram at @nurseewithsign.
Angelica @mentalhealthnurseangelica
A registered psychiatrist nurse, Angelica writes about mental health issues, like what her work consists of, how to manage “down days,” and tips on managing balance between work and play. For anyone struggling with their mental health or wanting to learn more about psychiatric care, you can find her highlighting her nursing wins and the reward she finds helping patients in psych care.
She also documents her life with eczema and suggests products that manage her flare-ups. Follow her Instagram at @mentalhealthnurseangelica.
Nicole Lee @nursinglifesimplified
If you’re a working nurse out of graduate school, then you might relate to Nicole’s nursing journey. She posts “day in the life” videos about her shifts but also has documented her pre-shift anxiety and how it feels to start a new job after graduating. Nurses can find her posts relatable in how she captures her shaky journey out of college to growing in her field and learning more about how to care for her patients. She’s on Instagram and TikTok, as @nursinglifesimplified.
Cate Joanne @catejoanne
Cate is a nursing student who posts about her life in and out of nursing school. She shows her reality in nursing school, documenting her ups and downs studying and completing 12-hour clinicals. Nursing students can find her posts motivating and honest about nursing school-related things, like critical care terms, burnout, and even caffeinated drinks. You can find her on Instagram and TikTok at @catejoanne.
Operating Room and Nurse Humor @orgels
If you’re tired and want to scroll for hours watching funny nursing TikToks, follow @orgels. The creator is an operating room nurse who posts on what it’s like as a nurse in healthcare. She also takes you behind her work as an operating room nurse. Any nurse can follow her posts to understand why they decided to work in nursing and what weekend call shifts feel like. She’s also on Instagram at @or_gerl.s.
