Being a nurse is not an easy job. It requires patience, compassion, and determination. Nurses are a vital part of the health industry and are the first ones to serve patients. They have to monitor the patients and aid them through a smooth recovery. Moreover, other than catering to their patients, their job demands staying up to date with the health history of patients and educating patients about their wellness. In addition, they have to stay updated about advances in treatment and medication.
Doing all this can be overwhelming and draining, especially for new nurses who are getting to know the work. Furthermore, nurses can suffer from fatigue, stress, and burnout due to the tension of instant decision-making, putting in long hours, and suffering from emotional attachment to patients. All these factors can significantly impact your performance as a nurse. Thus it is necessary to practice some essential tips to help you cope with work and perform your best.
Continue Your Education
Receiving an education is a major part of any career. It helps you understand and excel in your field. As the world advances, so does the knowledge of your relevant field. Hence, it’s useful to learn more innovative concepts. New technology, treatments, and response techniques are constantly evolving in the health industry. The same goes for nursing, as nurses must keep an open mind to new information and develop their skills and knowledge to give the best to their profession.
Thus, to upgrade your performance and advance in your field, you should consider enrolling in a nursing degree. Going for an online degree will help you juggle your career and studies. Moreover, you can easily find online courses in your area. For example, if you reside in or wish to study in Texas for any reason, there are several Texas online nursing programs you can check out.
Eat Well
Nursing demands a lot of energy and stamina as the nurse is the first one to respond to an emergency and is the primary caregiver to patients. Furthermore, nurses run around in their workplace all day, assisting patients and doctors and managing health records. Keeping up with such a hectic job requires you to be fit and healthy.
Furthermore, not keeping a healthy diet and eating habits will significantly impact your performance, as you will not be feeling your best. You will most probably suffer from fatigue, brain fog, headaches, and digestive issues such as constipation or diarrhea. Such health issues will massively impact your performance at work. Therefore nurses should consume a diet rich in nutrition.
As a nurse, you should always keep healthy snacks at your station, as having small meals throughout the shift will give you energy and help you be more alert. You can consider keeping snacks like nuts, dry and fresh fruits, and wholesome foods like popcorn. Besides snacks, you should have three proper meals daily with equal parts of macro and micronutrients.
Learn Effective Communication
Communication matters significantly in nursing. Nurses must be avid communicators if they want to give their patients the best of their services. Practicing effective communication helps you apprehend your patient’s state and gives them a chance to release their emotional stress. Communicating well with them will also further increase your patient’s satisfaction.
You can learn effective communication through a few simple ways. These small practices will help you go a long way in your career. As a nurse, it is essential for you to listen to your patients, as listening is half of communicating well. Ensuring that you are attentively hearing them will give you a better idea of their situation and let you learn about things about their health that are not evident.
In addition, while communicating, your body language also matters. For example, it would be best to make sure that you stand firm and tall in front of your patient when you’re engaging in a conversation with them. If you crouch or stand slouchy, it will make an impression that you’re not actively listening to your patient.
Lastly, patience is key to effective communication. Some patients will struggle to communicate with you; hence as their nurse, it’s your job to be patient with them and assist them in effectively speaking to you. Thus, these small yet effective ways will help you build trust with your patients.
Prioritize Self-Care
As a nurse, taking time off and engaging in activities that make you feel better is vital. Nurses must learn to separate work and personal life. Most nurses obsessively do their job, and in the long run, it starts affecting their performance at work. Hence giving time to yourself and prioritizing self-care is essential to you and your career.
You must engage in healthy activities like exercising to boost stamina and strength. In addition, you can try relaxing exercises like yoga that will help you soothe your mind. Moreover, you can include light cardio such as walking and jogging. Just fifteen to thirty minutes daily is enough. If you are not a fan of traditional exercises, you can take up fun physical activities like swimming or Zumba.
Similarly, maintaining a healthy sleep pattern is a big part of self-care. Nurses have a hectic shift; therefore, ensuring a well-managed and organized self-care routine is essential. You must make sure to get a healthy seven to nine hours of sleep to manage your work better. Likewise, a few habits will help you sleep better, such as avoiding screen time and coffee before bed.
Conclusion
As a nurse, you always want to give your best and your performance to level up. However, at times you are unable to perform the best for various reasons, such as struggling to manage work. Nonetheless, a few tips can help you increase your performance and give excellent care to your patients. Nurses must educate themselves and never shy away from knowledge; hence enrolling in a nursing degree will be ideal. Moreover, eating a healthy and wholesome diet will keep you from falling sick and help you excel at work. Nurses should also prioritize self-care, as catering to oneself is necessary.