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Published On:  September 08, 2017
Updated On:    June 24, 2021
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As the saying goes, "You have to take care of yourself Last Name*
before you can take care of others." For nurses, this
could not be more true. Nursing is a demanding career, Email*
requiring both physical and emotional stamina.
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Prioritizing your personal health is imperative so that
you have the energy and strength to care for patients. ZIP Code*
Therefore, it is critical to identify several self-care
strategies and incorporate those into your daily routine. How did you hear about us?*

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Why Is Self-Care Important?
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Self-care for nurses is important because it promotes
individual health and wellness, offering an outlet for or call 866-489-2810 866-
stress and creating a better work-life balance. Since 489-2810
By submitting this form, I am providing my digital
nursing relies on shift work — weekends, nights and signature agreeing that The University of Texas at
on-call rotations — sleep deprivation is a problem for Arlington (UTA) may email me or contact me
regarding educational services by telephone
many. A 2018 National Council of State Boards of and/or text message utilizing automated
technology or a pre-recorded message at the
Nursing study showed that 56% of night shift nurses telephone number(s) provided above. I
understand this consent is not a condition to
reported symptoms of sleep deprivation and were more attend UTA or to purchase any other goods or
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likely to make patient errors. Self-care strategies can
minimize the occurrence of sleep deprivation and the
negative effects on patients.
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Some self-care techniques provide ways for nurses to
disconnect from work-related stress and channel it into APPLY NOW
a positive outlet. A 2020 blog post published
in Relias discussed nurses experiencing depression at
high rates. With the amount of physical and emotional
stress that nurses are under having a way to process
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11/14/21, 1:32 AM Basic Strategies for Self-Care | UTA Online
stress that nurses are under, having a way to process
negative thoughts and feelings is instrumental in
fighting depression. Depression not only affects your
well-being but also your interactions with coworkers
and Degree
Online the quality
Programs❮of patient care.
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Self-Care Strategies for

Nurses
To keep stress and depression at bay and maintain your
physical health, try implementing one or more of these
self-care strategies:

Stay Hydrated: While this may seem obvious, staying

hydrated is often a challenge for nurses. To combat
dehydration, take small sips of water throughout your
shift. Consider investing in an insulated tumbler to keep
beverages at the preferred temperature.

Take Restroom Breaks: When you are busy with

patients, it can be easy to overlook your own needs.
Making time for restroom breaks throughout your shift
is important, though. A few two-minute trips to the
restroom can prevent unnecessary and painful urinary
tract and bladder infections.

Plan Healthy Meals and Snacks: As a nurse, you may

be burning through calories faster than you think. You
will need to frequently refresh your energy reserves so
make sure you have healthy meals and snacks readily
available. Avoid relying on foods and drinks that contain
high levels of caffeine and sugar. Instead, select
nutritious foods that are portable and require minimal
preparation.

Choose Exercise You Enjoy: Stamina and strength are

necessary to perform your job duties properly, and
exercise can help. Find an exercise you enjoy —
whether it is walking, swimming, cycling or yoga — and
do it at least a few times a week. Some employers offer
discounted gym memberships or even hold fitness
classes on campus, so try out a few different exercises
and find what works best for you.

Create a Sleep-Friendly Environment: Even if you are

not working the night shift, creating a relaxing sleep
i t t th t d
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11/14/21, 1:32 AM Basic Strategies for Self-Care | UTA Online
environment can ensure you get the rest you need.
Room-darkening curtains, eye masks, ear plugs and
noise machines can be helpful options.

Keep in Touch With Family and Friends: Shift work and

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on-call assignments can wreak havoc on your personal
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life. While it may be tempting to pass on an outing with
friends or family, maintaining these relationships can do
wonders for your emotional health. Though you can't
say yes to every invitation, strive to meet up with others
outside of work at least once a week.

Be Mindful: Meditation techniques, like deep breathing

and guided imagery, can be instrumental in relieving
stress and refocusing on the present. With a growing
number of smartphone apps as well as meditation
videos designed solely for nurses, finding a suitable
format and style has never been easier.

How to Incorporate Self-Care

While the self-care strategies listed above can help
nurses reduce stress and improve overall health and
wellness, incorporating them into a busy schedule can
prove challenging. Starting with small goals can lead to
greater progress down the road. For example, set a
goal to exercise just twice per week for 10 minutes
each time. After one month, increase to three times per
week, slowly extending the length of the exercise
session.

In addition, adding self-care techniques to your

calendar can increase your chances of sticking with it.
Consider setting a standing weekly lunch date with your
best friend, downloading a meditation app that
automatically sends daily guided imagery prompts or
joining a fitness class with a coworker who will keep
you accountable.

Get Started
Nursing is a rewarding career that demands both
physical and emotional strength. Incorporating self-care
strategies into your schedule can reduce stress and
minimize negative health effects improving your overall
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11/14/21, 1:32 AM Basic Strategies for Self-Care | UTA Online
minimize negative health effects, improving your overall
wellness and work-life balance.

Learn more about UTA's online RN to BSN program.

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Sources:
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National Council of State Boards of Nursing: The
Results of TERCAP: Do More Errors Occur on the Night
Shift?

Relias: Depression and Anxiety in Nurses

Medscape: Hospital Nurses Can Reduce Stress With

Online Program, Study Suggests
 

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