5 Tips to Handle Stressful Times as a Nurse

But seriously: Keep notes so nothing is forgotten, shun workplaces that have a toxic environment or where you would be given such heavy assignments that it's unsafe, set limits on your boss calling you at home when you're off duty, prioritize patient care by giving the patients with the most emergent situations your attention first, delegate, delegate, delegate.

Can you please give some examples of delegating during your shift? I am a one year nurse and and doing my best to delegate on a general surgery med surg. floor. Thank you!

If you all delegate who is going to work?! How about to work at work?

Nursing in terms of caring for patients is stressful. I signed up for it and I can handle it. Same thing in jobs I have had away from the bedside, I can perform the job under stress. I expect stress.

What I find hard to tolerate is gossiping and two faced coworkers and managers. This causes me more stress than a patient or family member acting out.

I had a job I loved, but left because it was Peyton Place! The patients were great. The location was close. Most of my coworkers were awesome. A new manager came onboard and brought a little posse of her own... Gossiping and running to her about every little thing. You would go into her office and she would ask what is the latest gossip on the unit.

At another facility where I worked a little clique would sit across from each other texting comments about whomever just walked in! This kind of thing is ridiculous. It impacts morale and patient safety. People do not concentrate on work and select who they will and won't help.

I have ave also been spoiled to have had some awesome helpful cohesive coworkers. Having experienced great work groups, it makes the bad ones seem worse!

Use the "mindfulness" technique

Thank you for your question. I have been thinking of examples and jotting them down, but have also been busy getting ready for the holiday, so don't have the response quite ready yet. Will try to nget it posted tomorrow evening : )

But seriously: Keep notes so nothing is forgotten, shun workplaces that have a toxic environment or where you would be given such heavy assignments that it's unsafe, set limits on your boss calling you at home when you're off duty, prioritize patient care by giving the patients with the most emergent situations your attention first, delegate, delegate, delegate.

Awesome additional strategies, thank you for sharing!

Use the "mindfulness" technique

Great one, I love this technique!

Nursing in terms of caring for patients is stressful. I signed up for it and I can handle it. Same thing in jobs I have had away from the bedside, I can perform the job under stress. I expect stress.

What I find hard to tolerate is gossiping and two faced coworkers and managers. This causes me more stress than a patient or family member acting out.

I had a job I loved, but left because it was Peyton Place! The patients were great. The location was close. Most of my coworkers were awesome. A new manager came onboard and brought a little posse of her own... Gossiping and running to her about every little thing. You would go into her office and she would ask what is the latest gossip on the unit.

At another facility where I worked a little clique would sit across from each other texting comments about whomever just walked in! This kind of thing is ridiculous. It impacts morale and patient safety. People do not concentrate on work and select who they will and won't help.

I have ave also been spoiled to have had some awesome helpful cohesive coworkers. Having experienced great work groups, it makes the bad ones seem worse!

I totally agree. These are great points. Work is work and there will be stress. Although, it should not be so stressful that it is unbearable.

And good to hear that you have experienced both the pros and cons when it comes to coworkers. These experiences will help you as you relate to others in the workplace. And also help you know where you do not want to work and why!!

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Appreciate it!

Can you please give some examples of delegating during your shift? I am a one year nurse and and doing my best to delegate on a general surgery med surg. floor. Thank you!

Great question. So, you can delegate what is appropriate to unlicensed professional staff. For example, asking them to help a patient get out of bed. Or taking a blood pressure reading. It does depend on where you work and what people are able to do in their scope of practice. I would check with your nurse educator, nurse manager, or preceptor for examples of specific delegation in your practice area.

I didn't see "go to the bathroom and cry" lol