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■ Collaborative practice and shared governance box 13-9
models
Ten Daily De-Stress Reminders
In 2002, Dr. Linda Aiken and her colleagues iden- Express yourself! Communicate your feelings and emotions
tified a relationship between staffing, mortality, to friends and colleagues to avoid isolation and share
perspectives. Sometimes, another opinion helps you see
nurse burnout, and job dissatisfaction (Aiken et al.,
the situation in a different light.
2002). With each additional patient assigned to a
Take time off. Taking breaks, or doing something unrelated
nurse, the following occurred: to work, will help you feel refreshed as you begin work
again.
■ A 30-day mortality increase of 7%
Understand your individual energy patterns. Are you a
■ Failure-to-rescue rate increase of 7% morning or an afternoon person? Schedule stressful duties
■ Nursing job dissatisfaction increase of 15% during times when you are most energetic.
■ Burnout rate increase of 23% Do one stressful activity at a time. Although this may take
■ 43% of nurses surveyed were suffering from advanced planning, avoiding more than one stressful situa-
burnout tion at a time will make you feel more in control and satis-
fied with your accomplishments.
Exercise! Physical exercise builds physical and emotional
Conclusion resilience. Do not put physical activities “on the back
burner”as you become busy.
You already know that the work of nursing is not Tackle big projects one piece at a time. Having control of
easy and may sometimes be very stressful. Yet nurs- one part of a project at a time will help you to avoid feeling
ing is also a profession filled with a great deal of overwhelmed and out of control.
personal and professional satisfaction. Periodically Delegate if possible. If you can delegate and share in
problem solving, do so. Not only will your load be lighter,
ask yourself the questions designed to help you
but others will be able to participate in decision making.
assess your stress level and risk for burnout, and
It’s okay to say no. Do not take on every extra assignment
review the stress management techniques described or special project.
in this chapter. Be work-smart. Improve your work skills with new
There is no one right way to manage stress and technologies and ideas. Take advantage of additional
avoid burnout. Rather, by managing small segments job training.
of each day, you will learn to identify and manage Relax. Find time each day to consciously relax and reflect
your stress. This chapter contains many reminders on the positive energies you need to cope with stressful
situations more readily.
to help you de-stress during the day (Box 13-9).You
can also help your colleagues do the same. If you Adapted from Bowers, R. (1993). Stress and your health. National Women’s
Health Report, 15(3), 6.
find yourself in danger of job burnout during your
career, you will have learned how to bring yourself
back to a healthy, balanced position.
Ultimately, you are in control. Every day you are ■ I choose to focus on where I am and what I am
faced with choices. By gaining power over your doing.
choices and the stress they cause, you empower ■ I choose to acknowledge that this is the only
yourself. Instead of being preoccupied with the past moment in which I can take action.
or the future, acknowledge the present moment,
People cannot live in a problem-free world, but they
and say to yourself (Davidson, 1999):
can learn how to handle stress.Using the suggestions
■ I choose to relish my days. in this chapter, you will be able to adopt a healthier
■ I choose to enjoy this moment. personal and professional lifestyle. The self-
■ I choose to be fully present to others. assessment worksheet on DavisPlus, entitled
■ I choose to fully engage in the activity at hand. “Coping with Stress,”can help you manage stress and
■ I choose to proceed at a measured, effective help you understand your responses better.The work-
pace. sheet on DavisPlus,entitled “Values Clarification,”will
■ I choose to acknowledge all I have achieved help you identify how to begin to change taking into
so far. account what is most important to you.