The Complete Stress Management Guide for Nurses

If you’re a nurse (or thinking of becoming one), you know that it is not a career path for the faint of heart. With demanding schedules, hectic shifts, and the unpredictability that comes from dealing with people and healthcare, there needs to be a way to balance the demands with the rewards. If you’re looking for ways to de-stress and maintain your sanity at work, we’ve got you covered.

Take Care of Yourself, Too

While you’re learning the ropes as a nurse, it’s important to set good habits early that can help prevent you from becoming overstressed and undernourished in more ways than one. Getting a healthy amount of sleep, eating a balanced diet, and setting consistent routines can help you at every step of your career. Self-care is one of the most beneficial things you can do for yourself, even when things are chaotic and your patients take center stage. Check out the follow tips to keep you physically and mentally healthy in order to be the best possible nurse you can be. Top 3 Survival Traits for New Nurses

Know What to Expect and How to Deal

Knowing what to expect from your new career can help ease some anxiety and stress. Sure, every gig is different and comes with a new set of challenges, but we've compiled the following articles that outline exactly what you need to know in order to a) start your career on the right foot, and then b) keep it going strong as you rise among the ranks. 14 Things You Need to Know as a New Nurse 6 Secret Weapons You Won’t Learn in Nursing School 22 Reasons Being a Nurse is Really Hard 5 Nursing Leadership Styles You’ll Come to Learn as a Nurse Guide to a Successful Nursing Career What You Need to Be a Stellar Nurse No matter where you are in your career as a nurse, these tips can help you get a handle on stress before you start feeling overwhelmed. 7 Stress Management Techniques for Nurses How to Deal with Stress at Work 10 Ways to Reduce Stress at Work How to Train Your Brain to Keep You Healthy in Times of Stress Top 9 Stress Relieving Activities at Work That’ll Keep You Happy And don’t forget the ultimate stress-relief tip: make sure you have access to plenty of internet pictures of your cute baby animal of choice!

Remember: You’re Not Alone

No matter how alone, challenged, or stressed you may feel, you’re part of a network of other nursing professionals who know exactly what it feels like to be in this position. Understanding that you’re not in this alone can help with some of the more challenging parts of being a nurse. Top 10 Secrets of All Nurses And being part of that community means you don’t have to look too far to find stories that show what a worthwhile career you’ve chosen for yourself. 3 Stories That Prove Nursing is Worth It 10 of the Most Inspirational Parts of Nursing

Know When to Move On

If you’re feeling stressed and overwhelmed, there may not be an easy fix—it might just be time to start thinking about whether this job is really right for you. If leaving your current position would be the ultimate stress relief, we have lots of great resources for you to explore new opportunities and get ready to seize them. The Top 10 Highest Paying Nurse Jobs Where in the U.S. Can Nurses Find the Most Opportunities? 10 Nursing Careers You Didn’t Know Existed 8 Steps to Creating a Great Nursing Resume How to Create a Nursing Resume to Get You Hired 5 Questions Every Job Hopping Nurse Should Know How to Answer Create a Winning Registered Nurse Resume Despite its challenges, nursing can be one of the most fulfilling jobs around—after all, you know you’re helping people in a very immediate and concrete way. Along the way, there will be stress…that’s a given in every job, and especially one with high stakes. We want you to have all the tools available to help make sure that stress doesn’t take over your life, and undermine all of the great progress you’ve made on your career path. So take a deep breath, find some techniques that work for you (or a job exit plan, if things are just too rough), and hopefully find yourself a bit of calm and peace.