Standing for long hours in the operating room or staying alert and focused during a prolonged shift are just a few basic challenges a nurse faces at least three to four times a week.
Dealing with an exhausting work pace and heavy psychological toll makes nurses superheroes and lifesavers.
Nursing Insights: How to Thrive in Medical Chaos
The offset of the shift stresses the mind and strains the body. Night shifts and long work hours can disrupt normal sleep patterns, leading to a condition known as shift work sleep disorder (SWSD). Additionally, teamwork hurdles, the physical stress of the working environment, and frequent exposure to contagious diseases and infections are a few nerve-racking situations for a nurse.
Despite these high-pressure situations, what keeps a nurse moving is their willingness and passion to heal the wounds of suffering humanity and serve them with a token of ultimate care.
Let’s uncover the secret to how nurses manage to stay calm under pressure.
Incorporate a Healthy Sleeping Routine
Without a sound sleep, no medical professional is ready to put on the scrubs and head to the hospital. With sleepy eyes and a weary body, you might drag yourself to the job, but as a nurse, you won’t be able to put in your 100%.
Healthy sleeping habits can help you shrug off the stress, stay focused, and deal with overwhelming pressure. Therefore, it is recommended to maintain a consistent sleep schedule, especially for healthcare workers having long shifts ahead.
Limit Caffeine Intake
How relaxing is holding a cup of tea or coffee before going to bed? Drinking one more cup of coffee might give you a temporary energy boost, but it can also make you feel more anxious or stressed.
Consuming too much caffeine on a daily basis is not going to help you cope with stress. Try reaching for refreshing, caffeine-free drinks like water, unsweetened herbal teas, or the occasional fruit juice when you need a natural energy boost.
Drink lots of water to stay healthy, active, and calm under pressure.
Stay Physically Active and Focused
Nursing is not an easy task. It requires commitment and focus to care for individuals who are unable to do so themselves. If you feel out of sorts, how can you look after a patient in an emergency?
The best you can do is stay active and focused to handle stressful work situations. Staying active and energetic is not a single task, but a complete lifestyle.
Sleeping for adequate time, consuming a healthy diet, and most importantly, incorporating a robust workout in your daily life can help you remain unruffled in critical moments.
Build a Strong Support System
Nursing in high-pressure environments can be simplified if you have a supporting system around you. Employees can relate that the working environment and office culture play a vital role in stress management.
A work culture with a cynical attitude and a sense of reduced personal accomplishment can result in emotional exhaustion. Even more problematic is that it is associated with increased risk of medical errors, suboptimal patient care, and higher job turnover rates.
On the other hand, the nursing team with compassionate members who are willing to help each other, guide the juniors, and offer immense support can significantly improve the mental condition of medical workers. Thus, a collaborative and healthy work environment delivers exceptional pressure-tackling and problem-solving techniques and provides incredible growth opportunities.
Nourish your Body with a Healthy Diet
As a nurse, you are juggling multiple balls at the same time; it is critical to fuel your body with the best food. Consuming a healthy diet can equip you with the right nutrients to help you feel refreshed and tackle stressful situations.
For instance, getting enough calcium and vitamin D can support bone strength and reduce the risk of fatigue-related injuries, helping you stay on your feet during long shifts without discomfort.
On the other hand, consuming processed or fast food frequently will make you feel drained at work. Thus, a balanced diet can help by equipping your body with the right fuel to master calm in crisis.
Implement Effective Time Management Strategies
Undoubtedly, stress is a natural response to a high-pressure situation. Stress management for nurses encompasses several aspects, including time management strategies. Operating under a multifaceted workload can be easier with an adequate time management strategy.
To simplify complex tasks, break them into manageable steps and prioritize them on the basis of urgency and importance. Moreover, digital tools like productivity apps and calendars can contribute to tracking deadlines and staying organized.
Practice Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques
Looking at some healthcare employees, you might wonder how nurses stay calm under pressure. There is nothing complicated about staying grounded when pressure peaks.
The simple formula is to practice mindfulness techniques and take deep breaths whenever you encounter such a situation. Meditation and yoga practices can really help impart a relaxing experience, giving the practitioners the strength to stand on their own feet during the storm.
Take a short break from work, focus on taking deep breaths, and you will notice yourself getting back on track and feeling much better. Hence, the next time you feel under the weather, recharge yourself with mindfulness exercises.
Bottom Line: Master Calmness in Code Blue Moments
The healthcare industry is fast-paced and highly stressful. Prolonged exposure to such worrisome situations can culminate in burnout. Nursing in high-pressure environments requires you to develop your own set of coping mechanisms, such as physical exercise, adequate sleep, limiting caffeine intake, a healthy diet, and recreational activities.
Additionally, having a team of supportive mentors can make a difference in handling troubling circumstances with effective decision-making and problem-solving techniques.
At Allied Health Services, we take pride in being an incredible medical temp agency in Houston that fills the gaps in healthcare organizations with the right talent.
We have a list of highly professional nurses trained to tackle code blue moments with expertise. Ensure top-quality care and operational excellence with our team of efficient nurses.
