Xiomely Famighetti - Self-Care for Nurses: 100+ Ways to Rest, Reset, and Feel Your Best

Self-Care for Nurses

100+ Ways to Rest, Reset, and Feel Your Best

Xiomely Famighetti

BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC

Adams Media

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First Adams Media hardcover edition November 2021

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Interior design by Julia Jacintho

Interior images 123RF/Ekaterina Bychkova

Cover design by Frank Rivera

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Famighetti, Xiomely, author.

Title: Self-care for nurses / Xiomely Famighetti, BSN, RN, CCRN-CSC.

Description: First Adams Media hardcover edition. | Stoughton, MA: Adams Media, 2021.

Identifiers: LCCN 2021032183 | ISBN 9781507217146 (hc) | ISBN 9781507217153 (ebook)

Subjects: LCSH: Nurses--Job stress. | Nursing--Psychological aspects. | Stress management. | Self-care, Health.

Classification: LCC RT86 .F36 2021 | DDC 610.73--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2021032183

ISBN 978-1-5072-1714-6

ISBN 978-1-5072-1715-3 (ebook)

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Simon & Schuster, Inc., was aware of a trademark claim, the designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

The information in this book should not be used for diagnosing or treating any health problem. Not all diet and exercise plans suit everyone. You should always consult a trained medical professional before starting a diet, taking any form of medication, or embarking on any fitness or weight training program. The author and publisher disclaim any liability arising directly or indirectly from the use of this book.

Being a nurse can be rewarding, thrilling, and fulfillingbut it can also be exhausting. Thats why you need to make time to take care of yourself just like you take care of your many patients.

So, why does it often feel difficult to muster up the energy and motivation to make this happen? Maybe you are busy with children or other family members to care for. Perhaps you feel guilt over prioritizing yourself, or you assume self-care would involve spending money you cant spare right now. Maybe you find it hard to switch gears from caring for others to caring for yourself.

As a nurse, you are asked to leave yourself at the door, put a smile on your face every day, and prepare to put your patients needs first. You happily do this for hours at a time, and this is what makes it such a special profession. But you probably also tend to abandon your own self-care needs as you attentively focus on the well-being of patients and loved ones. Its time to start making you a priority.

Thats where Self-Care for Nurses comes in! Throughout this book, you will learn how to sustain your physical, emotional, and mental health as a nurse, while also maintaining the practical aspects of daily life, keeping up with your social life, and developing a fulfilling professional career. Youll find over one hundred self-care activities to help you enjoy your lifes meaningful work while also maintaining a balanced lifestyle once your shift is over. Here are just some of the activities in this book:

• Use a gratitude journal to boost your mood and build a positive mindset.
• Exercise your mental muscles by learning something new, unrelated to nursing.
• Nourish your body by planning healthy work snacks in advance.
• Avoid professional burnout by learning how to say no to unwanted overtime.
• Revel in time with friends by hosting a game night.
• Do away with clutter that is causing you more stress.
• And more!

Prioritizing your own needs can be one of the keys to a successful and joyful nursing career. So, grab your favorite cup of brew, get cozy, and turn the page to experience rejuvenating self-care!

We all have emotional needs that require nurturing. We need to be able to feel our feelingsboth positive and challengingand process them in a healthy way.

Nurses regularly open themselves up to be able to respond emotionally to their patients issues, concerns, and struggles. Whether its sharing the low of receiving a difficult diagnosis or the high of a treatment that worked as planned, emotional moments happen frequently during your days at work. But when you are constantly involved in other peoples feelings, it can be challenging to switch gears and put your own emotions first sometimes. Prioritizing your emotional needs involves taking the time to feel positive emotions and learning how to deal with the negative ones. In this chapter you will learn how to make sure youre tending to your own emotional needs.

Some of the activities in this chapter will allow you to learn more about yourself and explore feelings you didnt know were lingering. These simple practices are meant to be repeated as often as needed and carried on long term in your nursing career and everyday life. A few emotional self-care ideas you will find in this chapter are sending yourself flowers, making a nostalgic meal, creating a playlist for various moods, creating a gratitude journal, and practicing self-forgiveness. Performing emotional self-care might feel unfamiliar at first, but it is a transformative experience that will leave you feeling happier and more fulfilled as a caretaker for others.

Its all too easy to let your busy day-to-day life consume you, making you forget all of the great things you have done in the pastand how much you have grown. Sometimes all you need is a quick reminder by writing them down in a list. This emotional self-care activity can help restore happiness, boost your confidence, and build a sense of pride in all youve accomplished.

The idea is as simple as it sounds: Write down a list of personal accomplishments youve made over the past five years. Some examples of things you might want to include on this list are passing a difficult exam, graduating nursing school, getting an award at work, staying healthy, learning a new skill, taking on new responsibilities, or even finding time for a weekend getaway with your family. No accomplishment is too small!

Once youve made your list, try to review and update it periodically. That might mean once a week or once every few monthswhatever works for you.

The beauty of this activity is that it celebrates your wins and reminds you how amazing you are. This method of self-love can also motivate you to reach future goals. After all, if you achieved something difficult once, you can absolutely do it again!