I only work part time nights and trust me in that work environment and with only 2 CNAs (who are the best in my opinion) and just me for 50 patients, some who belong in a psych ward... I have to destress.
My way is to Swim and do yoga.....I swim about 3 miles a week (a mile is 70 laps), and I do quite a bit of yoga on dvd sets, I use Wai Lana Dvds. I also meditate and do a lot of reading.
How do you de stress..........besides drinking just kidding.
Generally, I get a severe tension headache and use a series of neck and trapezius stretches to try to remedy the situation along with a caffeinated drink and two Excedrin Tension Headache pills or its generic. I agonize for a while, try some deep breathing, and I get on with life while hurting. Fun stuff really.
Do you and two CNAs have all responsibility for 50 patients alone? How big is the care-need for these patients? I'm just curious because it's very stressful on my workplace as well. And I'm working in Norway.
I go for a warm bath and listen to relaxing music when I'm stressed up :)
Yep we sure do. Most patients are pretty much full assist. We do have 3 that are combative, and two that really belong in a psychiatric unit and it's very tough..but we're going by what state law states, I think that the higher ups think that all we do on nights is sit and pick our noses as everyone is supposedly asleep according to them.
Generally, I get a severe tension headache and use a series of neck and trapezius stretches to try to remedy the situation along with a caffeinated drink and two Excedrin Tension Headache pills or its generic. I agonize for a while, try some deep breathing, and I get on with life while hurting. Fun stuff really.
Not trying to push but have you tried yoga? Seriously it helps. I also see a chiropractor and he's helped with my migraines that along with yoga I've not had a migraine in over four years...touch wood LOL
Michelle
PS there are great DVD's for yoga out there I have a set that I use all the time by wai lana she's very good especially for people who have never done it.
-Take the dogs outside and watch them run til they can't run anymore, then have the little one hop up in my lap and snuggle with me
-Ride my horse, or if my energy is zapped, just go sit in the pasture with them. It is so cool how they will be dispersed in all corners of the property, but within 2 minutes of me going out there and plopping down on the mounting block, I have three warm fuzzy noses blowing kisses on my cheek!
-I'm a beginning runner, and I'm shocked to find it is a great destressor and I actually look forward to runs (OK, ultra-slow jogs for now)
-If all else fails, NAP!
-ETA: I almost forgot the best one: snuggles (or more ) with my awesome hubby. He is by far my #1 stress relief!
Hanging with my dogs is an instant de-stressor. Their silliness drops my BP, pulse, and respirations.
i have 4 dogs, and once they stop competing to plop on my lap, i love just hanging out with them.
(every try to pat 4 dogs at once?:))
-Ride my horse, or if my energy is zapped, just go sit in the pasture with them. It is so cool how they will be dispersed in all corners of the property, but within 2 minutes of me going out there and plopping down on the mounting block, I have three warm fuzzy noses blowing kisses on my cheek!
I also have 4 dogs. Just watching them play or see how excited they get when I come home is an instant destressor. Usually the house is quiet. Kids at school, husband at work so I just nap on the couch. Get up and start dinner. Then I go back to work and do it all over again.
Read something completely unrelated to work - biographies and history are my preferences but will occasionally read fiction. If the weather is nice, I sit outside and read for vitamin D and fresh air.
yep we sure do. most patients are pretty much full assist. we do have 3 that are combative, and two that really belong in a psychiatric unit and it's very tough..but we're going by what state law states, i think that the higher ups think that all we do on nights is sit and pick our noses as everyone is supposedly asleep according to them.
michelle
i know that feeling myself, although i don't work night shifts. the night nurse and the cna almost describes the same as you.
we have a patient that with all means should be in a psychiatric unit also. she can be very nasty to all of us and she calls approximatly 50 times on the alarmphone per shift.. this have a bad influence on other patients also, because we become stressed up and must take the alarmphone in the middle of something. she has a long psychiatric past. but the nurseleader wont listen to us. i think the patient had got a better quality of life if she got a place somewhere else.
but is there a better staff-number on day and evening-shifts?
just kidding.
) with my awesome hubby. He is by far my #1 stress relief!
ImThatGuy, BSN, RN
2,139 Posts
Generally, I get a severe tension headache and use a series of neck and trapezius stretches to try to remedy the situation along with a caffeinated drink and two Excedrin Tension Headache pills or its generic. I agonize for a while, try some deep breathing, and I get on with life while hurting. Fun stuff really.