Personal Wellness

allnurses Guide · Jan 24

MoLo said:

What is one thing that you do to maintain your personal strength, optimism, energy when working with this population?

Tell myself "There but for thegrace of God go I."

UrbanHealthRN, BSN, RN · Jan 24

I *try* to do the same things I encourage my patients to do (sometimes it's easier than others!)

I pay a lot of attention to my mental well-being and at times go to therapy if I feel like I'm no longer coping well. Grief, secondary trauma, and even some of my own trauma returning have all happened while working in the field of substance use. Mental healthcare has been *huge* in helping me to work through these issues.

Sometimes optimism is my last priority of things to feel in this work, but I think staying "open" if not "optimistic" is a good way to look at it. Somebody might decide they want my help at any moment, and I have to stay open to that, regardless of what the outcomes will be.

I set boundaries (so many boundaries!) and *try* to keep a work-life balance.

I maintain eating, sleeping, personal hygiene, etc. routines as much as possible. Routines keep me feeling well rested, cared for, and grounded.

I learn about and practice a variety of coping mechanisms, including sensory-based.

I check in on my friends and family and carve out time to spend with them.

I try to keep a hobby or two besides watching tv active. Right now I'm getting to garden again soon.

Remembering to choose me every day helps keep my perspective in check, both of myself and my patients.

allnurses Guide · Jan 24

UrbanHealthRN said:

I *try* to do the same things I encourage my patients to do (sometimes it's easier than others!)

I pay a lot of attention to my mental well-being and at times go to therapy if I feel like I'm no longer coping well. Grief, secondary trauma, and even some of my own trauma returning have all happened while working in the field of substance use. Mental healthcare has been *huge* in helping me to work through these issues.

Sometimes optimism is my last priority of things to feel in this work, but I think staying "open" if not "optimistic" is a good way to look at it. Somebody might decide they want my help at any moment, and I have to stay open to that, regardless of what the outcomes will be.

I set boundaries (so many boundaries!) and *try* to keep a work-life balance.

I maintain eating, sleeping, personal hygiene, etc. routines as much as possible. Routines keep me feeling well rested, cared for, and grounded.

I learn about and practice a variety of coping mechanisms, including sensory-based.

I check in on my friends and family and carve out time to spend with them.

I try to keep a hobby or two besides watching tv active. Right now I'm getting to garden again soon.

Remembering to choose me every day helps keep my perspective in check, both of myself and my patients.

I could not have said this better if I had written it myself!

Hppy

NYC Nurse · Jan 25

MoLo said:

What is one thing that you do to maintain your personal strength, optimism, energy when working with this population?

I think finding job that you don't hate is important. you can do all teh self care in the world but if you hate your job because its abusive or overwhelming then it won't help. You need to start with finding a nursing job you aren't being killed in. Then you can do the self care activities. I love to do exercises that PUSH but also important to do things that calm you nervous system down like breathing exercises, yoga, stretching.

MoLo · Jan 27

I thnk you are brilliant. I get so focused on the interventions to maintain your best health, I have not recognized the importance of finding the job/type of nursing/schedule/peer group that brings you passion and job satisfaction to help in the more difficult times.

Thank you!

Luke79AU · Feb 2

MoLo said:

What is one thing that you do to maintain your personal strength, optimism, energy when working with this population?

Are you sure it's for you? I find Psych and addiction nursing enjoyable, and function far better there than in a medical/surgical environment.
My best advice:
- Always remember that you're dealing with a complex disease(s), many have significant trauma from childhood, especially the "hardcore" drug-taking patients. You can do your best, and may see no improvement, sometimes even deterioration. Patients will remember your kindness and care.
- Medication for mental health, as a whole, is far from impressive. "Remission rates for patients with major depressive disorder are discouragingly low. Even when first-line treatment is administered at an adequate dose for a sufficient duration, approximately two-thirds of patients will fail to achieve remission, and many who remit have residual symptoms." https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24434110/ Few drugs, as a large class, are as ineffective as antidepressants.
- Addiction science is polluted by politics, and hindered by people in policy making who lack the relevant education.

MoLo · Feb 2

Luke,

You are clearly experienced in this field, and your patients are lucky to have you. I would observe that what you do for yourself is to recognize the illness, the limitations on what the nurse can expect, and a way to conduct yourself that maintains your professionalism and compassion at all times, and allows the door to be open for your patients to return for a possible more successful outcome in the future.

That is a lot!

moe