Choosing to work in healthcare can be a rewarding experience, but this job can sometimes be excessively demanding.
Overworked and understaffed, RNs constantly have to deal with life-and-death situations almost daily. With the pressure of providing the best care to patients, taking good care of their mental and physical health may seem next to impossible.
In 2023, more than 90% of nurses say they feeltired and overworked. If you're a part of this profession, taking care of yourselfshould be a priority so you can continue to provide quality care to patients. This doesn't have to be too difficult. Use the following tips to stay healthy and productive as a nurse:
1. Recognize your strengths
Teamwork leads to productivity in any profession, and nursing isn't an exception. However, a modern nursing workforce comprises four generations; millennials (39%), Gen X-ers (37%), and boomers (22%) are the majority, with Gen Z-ers (1%) being the minority.
These generations have different attitudes and ideologies, and by understanding these differences, nurses can work effectively as a team. As a nurse, you must understand generational nurse strengths and weaknesses properly.
For instance, boomers are hardworking but reluctant to seek help. Gen X-ers are tech-savvy but don't respond well to authority. Innovation and collaboration are millennials' hallmarks but can be a bit praise-dependant.
When these generational strengths merge, an effective team appears. So, recognizing these strengths and weaknesses will make you a productive nurse in an organization.
2. Socialize with friends
Creating a balance between your work-related duties and social connections will help youset healthy boundaries, take out time for yourself, and avoid work-related stress and burnout.This can be good for your productivity at work and well-being. Here's how you can strike this balance:
- Set personal and professional goals
- Socialize with your friends and family
- Ask for help whenever you're feeling under the weather
- Manage your time at work properly
- Prioritize your work duties, such as performing difficult tasks first
- Delegate your tasks efficiently and avoid overworking yourself
3. Maintaining Clean workstations
Messy workplaces are bad for your health and may affect your patients' well-being if you transfer germs from one place to another. Cleaner workstations reduce the risk of spreading dust allergies and hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). Follow the hospital's guidelines on properly cleaning your stations and which products to use to kill germs.
4. Wear nursing footwear
Wear slip-resistant shoes to stay more productive at work. These specially-designed shoes will keep you comfortable whether you're running in a hurry. Their insoles also prevent back pain,which is amazing for your well-being. Avoid foot fatigue by wearing compression socks to stay active even on long shifts. Some RNs try to soak their feet with Epsom salts to eliminate foot fatigue, but wearing compression socks is a better way to prevent blood clots and vascular problems.
5. Do stress-reducing exercises
Nurses' mental health saw a decline during the pandemic's peak. A survey reveals that 75% of nursesfelt stressed in 2021, and many even wanted to leave this profession altogether to focus on their mental health. Your mental health is linked to your productivity, and you can save it by:
- Adopting a hobby that helps you deal with work-related pressure
- Indulging in some self-care
- Engaging in stress-reducing exercises, such as yoga
- Practicing mindfulness to overcome negative feelings
- Do tai chi, deep breathing, muscle relaxation, and visualization exercises
6. Create a routine
Having a routine allows you to make the most of your time, prioritize tasks, and maintain a productive and healthy day. So, create a routine for yourself. It is important to follow this routine to establish a sense of structure and consistency in your life. Your routine should also regulate your private life, such as eating well, sleeping punctually, and exercising daily. In the workplace, this routine helps you manage your time easily and be productive.
7. Sleep on time
Adults need to sleep for 7-8 hours to wake up the next morning refreshed, revitalized, and ready for a busy day's work. Skipping on a good night's rest will negatively affect your performance at the workplace the following day and hurt your well-being.
If you have trouble sleeping, stop using devices that emit blue light before going to sleep, avoid drinking coffee before bedtime, and sleep in a room conducive to good sleep.If you have insomnia, talk to a professional about it.
8. Eat your breakfast
People often skip breakfast because they're running late to work. However, doing so isn't healthy because it can reduce blood sugar levels drop and leave you feeling exhausted throughout the day. You may become more irritable and lose focus.
Starting your day with a healthy breakfast can provide all the necessary nutrients for a productive day at work. It boosts your alertness and overall health.
You can add new content to your palate to make the breakfast more enjoyable. Eat some fruits each morning. A combination of complex carbohydrates, protein, and healthy fats would be ideal for you. Consume whole-grain toast with eggs, avocado, and oatmeal while drinking plenty of water too.
9. Drink caffeine in moderation
Many RNs become addicted to excessive caffeine because they think it's helping them be more productive, but that's not true. Sipping a cuppa occasionally is fine, but drinking it excessively can be extremely unhealthy.
Coffee is a stimulant and makes you jittery. Drinking a lot of it makes concentrating hard, and your productivity levels decline. Drinking too much caffeine can also disrupt your sleep schedule, cause dehydration, and leave you feeling even more exhausted as you become addicted to it.
If you're looking for a number, limit your caffeine intake to 400 mg per day.
Conclusion
As a nurse, don't forget that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of your patients. You won't be able to do the latter without doing the former.
You can become more productive and remain healthy by improving your work-life balance, keeping your workplace clean, eating healthy, sleeping on time, and reducing stress in your life. Identify and use your strengths to make the most of your professional and personal life.
