I wish I had that kind of energy every day....
I put some links for you to check out when your not at work doing what she is doing hee heee....
How to Stay Energized Throughout Your Nursing Shift
Working a 12-hour shift is challenging in any field, and nurses specifically must deal with physical, emotional and relational stressors that can deplete their energy more than many other workers.
A number of factors can also determine how taxing a nurse’s shift is, including:
• Patient load and acuity levels;
• Amount of ancillary staff support;
• Documentation requirements;
• Level of co-worker/provider engagement;
• Ability to take breaks and make nutritious food choices;
• Personal health status;
• Ergonomics of the work environment;
• Type of flooring and shoes worn;
• Available patient handling assistance devices; and
• Shift schedule.
With so many factors at play, what can a nurse do to survive and thrive through a long and challenging shift? NurseZone.com spoke to some clinical health and wellness experts who offer these tips:
1. Control what you can control
“While you may not have any control over your patient load or acuity, you can make use of any assistance devices available to you. You may not get to choose what shift you work, but you can do your best to maintain a regular routine. Likewise, you probably don’t get to choose the flooring at your facility, but you can invest in a good pair of running shoes,” remarked Dan Donahue, MEd, director of employee health and wellness at Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia, Wash.
2. Focus on eating and movement
Cathy Turner, MS, encourages nurses to focus on their long-term health and energy over just making it through the next nursing shift.
“In order to keep their energy up, nurses should especially pay attention to their eating and their movement,” offered Cathy Turner, MS, director of health promotion at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington. “It is ideal to eat both regular meals and to have an energy-boosting snack between meals such as a piece of fruit and some cheese. I recommend that every time you eat that you include a protein source because protein takes longer to digest and it is what feeds our energy levels over the long haul.”
“Often people think they have to have a 30-minute, heart-rate-increasing workout for it to count for anything. But research is showing that just 5-10 minutes of exercise can boost your energy levels.” Turner explained. “There are yoga poses you can do at your workstation, do a quick stairs workout, or even some seated chair exercises if you just need to get off your feet.”
3. Be wise about caffeine and energy drinks
When it comes to caffeine consumption, Donahue said that moderation is key.
“In the right amount and time, caffeine can be beneficial and help improve mood, attention, concentration and energy levels. Too much sugar or caffeine [>400mg] early or through mid-shift will have a negative effect later when the consumer will experience a drop in their energy level. It's better to have a little bit throughout the shift,” he said.
“Nurses should be aware that energy drinks can also contain high levels of taurine and guarana and other ingredients that may boost the caffeine levels and have other undetermined effects,” Donahue added. “Instead of looking to caffeine to boost energy, nurses should be concentrating on staying hydrated. I recommend trying to drink 90 ounces of water a day.”
4. Realign your attitude, reinforce your team
“An important part of having a successful shift is about attitude and remembering what you are there for--your calling and desire to go in and help these patients,” offered Christine Slohe, RN, BSN, PHN, emergency room nurse at St. Mary Medical Center in Apple Valley, Calif.
“Also, I think it is often overlooked how important co-workers are to the success of a shift,” Slohe continued. “When I have some downtime, I go and help another team member, then they reciprocate later--it helps to keep the flow instead of having highs and lows throughout the shift. I am fortunate to work with a great group. Our motto is: If you see a need, fill a need.”
5. Make breaks count
While the “ideal” schedule for nurses’ breaks would be approximately every three hours throughout a 12-hour shift, Donahue knows that in reality most nurses try to work a break in whenever they can get it.
“The most important thing is they at least get some sort of break and it would be nice if they could remove themselves from their work environment and get their mind, eyes and body in a whole different state,” he said.
Turner recommends deep, mindful breaths as a way to come back to your center and to reenergize.
“When you are taking your break, it is a mental recharge to sit there and have your mind focus on something different,” reflected Slohe. “I like to go outside and get out of the enclosed environment. That is more rejuvenating than just sitting in the break room.”
6. Don’t forget the long run
Getting through a single nursing shift shouldn’t be the only focus, though.
“Nurses should be looking at their long-term health and energy levels and making an investment there, not just figuring out how to make it through the next shift,” encouraged Turner. “Being an effective caregiver means caring for yourself.”
“I always tell people to seek balanced input for the body, mind and spirit. I believe we need input on all three levels to feel whole and healthy and have a good outlook and positive energies,” Donahue said. “I believe we also need to schedule body/mind/spirit ‘time’ in order for it to consistently happen and to gain the benefits.”
Nurses' Wheel of Life: Creating Balance and Wellness
One of my favourite tools to create balance and wellness while nursing is the ‘Wheel of Life’. You may have seen this before in articles or books. I think its simplicity is its strong point, and I have used one every 12 weeks for the past 4 years to assess how my life is going. I then use it to set my 12 week goals and actions. Many of my clients find it a useful starting point too.
Using it can highlight imbalances in your life or make you think about areas of you and your life that you have been ignoring. There are no right or wrong answers; it is only for you.
The Wheel of Life:
- Health - Physical and psychological
- Work - Do you like your job, does it 'suit you’?
- Money - Income vs spending and debts
- Your ‘inner circle’ - Friends and social life
- Your family, partner, parents, and pets.
- Home - Town, area, house/flat
- Fun, challenge and excitement - Travel, performing, hobbies
- Development and learning/spirituality/community
Spend some time thinking about each life area, and be honest, how ‘happy’ are you with each one right now? Give each area a score ‘out of 10’ to indicate how happy you are with that area at the current time. This will be from 0 (it couldn't be worse) to 10 (it is absolutely perfect!)
Then be bold! What would make that area a ‘10 out of 10’ score? What would be the best thing for your psychological well-being regarding money, work, or family relationships?
This is to challenge you to think about what you really want in your life. Think big. If you feel that ‘something is missing’, then this simple exercise can help to point to what that may be.
You can organize this information in a way that suits you. You can use these action pages or use a journal/ notebook or A4 papers in a smart file, or a spreadsheet - it’s up to you!
When I started to do the exercises 10 years ago, I used an A4 file to hold the information for each section with sheets of notes, pictures from magazines, and lots of colours. I still use a similar system in an A5 notebook - my 12 week action book - as this works for me. Put it on whatever format you like to use, as long as you look at it regularly (daily is best), write lots of information in it, and use it to inspire you.
When you have identified what you would like in life, think of one action for each section that will move you closer to your ultimate goal. Then decide exactly when you will do it - the sooner the better - then do it! It can be as simple as buying a health magazine this afternoon, eating an extra piece of fruit each day this week, phoning an old friend for a chat, taking your child to the cinema - whatever is right for you. Do it today, or at least this week. Make a start!
You can work through with a coach, a friend or a nursing co-worker, which will help. With the first coaching book that I used, I worked through the exercises with one of my sisters, and it was very helpful to share our experiences, motivate each other, and have someone to be accountable to for nursing wellness.
