Knee Pain Illustration....

Time Management for Nurses: 7 Tips to Create Time for Yourself......

 

 

 

I’ve recently put forth a question to all of the nurses I know about their biggest challenge that gets in the way of their self-care. I received many replies and noticed a theme emerge. Nurses responded with things like, “I just do not have time to fit in any fun after work” or “I can’t find the time to balance it all.” The common thread was one word: time.
I can understand how time becomes a challenge to self-care; with working 12 hour shifts getting called in to help when there is a call-out, or working weekends. Nursing is a busy profession and it seems like we are always on the job! But our own health should not be placed on the back burner to our careers. We can be busy, productive professionals caring for our patients and our staff, but not at the expense of our own well-being!
I challenge you to make your self-care your #1 priority. However, in order to do this I’d like to share some tips. These are strategies that I have used and seen work with other nurses. I hope you find these helpful to making more space for yourself!

1. Change your Mind Set. How many of you put other people first? Be honest. We all do. As nurses, we put patients first.  Then, we come home and put children and spouses first. I encourage you to start thinking of yourself first. Be selfish.  Think of yourself as number 1. Make yourself your first priority.  Our thoughts become our actions so when you think of yourself as important you will treat yourself in that way.
    
2. Say No. Another tricky one for nurses; we want to help everyone. But if we keep saying “yes” to every request our plate will fill up leaving no room for ourselves.  Get a buddy or call a trusted family member and practice saying no to people..If you are too busy taking care of everyone else and giving in to everyone else’s needs you will surely burn out quickly and be unable to be productive in anything you do!
    
3. Get Organized. Get a planner. And if you have a planner, buy a special pen that is just for your self-care activities. Schedule yourself in. Write your work out time down. Put in your relaxation time onto your calendar. That way when someone comes to you asking for help, you already have “an appointment” (with yourself) and you do not even have to worry about feeling awkward saying “no.”
    
4. Prioritize. Follow your energy for your To do list.. Do the things that you enjoy first.Tackle the tasks that use your strengths. By doing things you enjoy, you will waste less time procrastinating with the things you really do not feel like doing.  Look at your “to-do” list and start with the things that give you joy. You will notice yourself getting things done much faster that way!
    
5. Cut Out Distractions. I love this one (although I am still working on it!). How much time do you waste surfing the web?  What amount of time do you sit watching reality TV? Try this experiment: carry a stop watch with you and measure how much “useless activity” you spend your time in. I bet if you cut out all that time spent on Facebook or Twitter you would have hours of time to spend on your own self-care.
    
6. Slow Down. What is “time” really? They say the past is over, the future has not come, but the present is a gift. Live in the now. Avoid rushing from one thing to the next, or worse yet, multi-tasking. Focus on what you are doing in the moment. By doing this you will free up a lot of your time as you will get things done more efficiently and effectively. And quit saying, “I have no time for that” because how you are using your time will surely free up space for yourself.
    
7. Breathe. Spend 5 minutes each day just sitting quietly, with eyes closed, back straight, watching your breathing. Focus on the inhalation and exhalation fully. Do this each day and you will feel clearer and more focused. Creating a settled, quiet mind will create more calm. Peace of mind will bring time for you.  Click here for more information on and articles by Elizabeth Scala. 

How to create focus in the chaos.....

While driving home today, I was distracted by the commotion outside my car. Tractor trailers were banging and clanging quickly past me. On the sidewalk, construction workers were shouting to one another. Radios and car horns were invading my quiet space. I was having a hard time concentrating and my mind was racing. Then I realized it: This reminded me of a busy day on a nursing unit!

We’ve all had experiences like these: getting interrupted while calculating medication dosages, being called to the telephone during patient teaching, or hearing a bed alarm and rushing away from talking to a family member about a loved one. And it can get a bit chaotic and stressful!

One way to decrease distraction is through positive affirmations. Stating positive declarations can create greater focus and concentration, and give you a sense of balance. Taking time out each day to sit quietly, breathe and state mantras to yourself can have a deep impact on your happiness, peace of mind and health.

Research has shown that stating mantras has positive effects on stress reduction. In a 2007 study conducted at Duke Medical Center, researchers found significant reductions in stress and negative emotions in participants who used meditation techniques that focused on mantras.

When you do this, you quiet the mind. You create a space that is free from disruption. And then, with practice, you can call upon this state of mind at any point during a busy shift.

Picture this: You have been running all day. Patient after patient needs you. The older gentleman in 312A fell down. Your chronic pain patient in 316B will not lay off the call bell. Any time you think you have five minutes to sit down and chart, another person is calling your name. This has been the longest shift of your life.

Instead of creating more stress, anxiety and disappointment by focusing on the hours ahead, try something different. Take a deep breath and say to yourself: “I have the strength and energy to see this through. I enjoy helping others.” Repeat this until you stand up, ready to give that final medication and discharge that last patient—feeling revitalized and ready to go!

Make time each day, either in the morning or the evening, to quietly state affirmations. Take a slow and deep breath in and out through your nose between each of the affirmations. Become aware of how you feel and start to notice any shifts in energy, mood or stress levels.

Here are some statements I use that can help you get started:

• I am exactly where I need to be as my journey in life reveals itself to me.
• I honor my mind, body and soul and treat each aspect of my being with respect.
• I am a confident, knowledgeable and successful role model as I inspire others to be the same.
• I know great joy and peace and therefore have wonderful energy.
• My speech is a form of love.
• I am limitless in my capacity for joy, healing and happiness.
• I will achieve perfect balance and be successful in all that I take on.
•  

You can add some of your own affirmations as you become comfortable with the process.

Taking the time to sit quietly with your own positive thoughts will greatly affect your life. You’ll create a way to cope with distraction during your busy days. You’ll generate a calmer presence by slowing down and breathing with yourself. You deserve great happiness, peace and love in your life. Make room for yourself!

 Source Link-How to create focus in the chaos....

Elizabeth Scala, MSN/MBA, RN, is a health and wellness coach who owns Living Sublime Wellness, a company that provides holistic coaching for mind, body and spirit. She coaches nurses and caregivers who are stressed, burned out and overwhelmed to make time for self-care and healthy balance in their busy lives. Scala offers a holistic newsletter and supportive monthly calls. Visit livingsublimewellness.com for more details.

Nursing Career Outlook for the next few years......

Keeping up with job market news in the nursing field can quickly make you wish you had a career advisor to untangle the mixed messages—a tough job market, yet understaffing at hospitals and clinics; a looming shortage, yet potential students being turned away from schools.

Here, we throw the word “crisis” out the window and provide some quick, simple facts and projections about the job market today and tomorrow, along with answers to the questions you’ve been asking.

What will the job market look like in 10 years?

The need for both RNs and LPNs is expected to grow like never before—by 21 to 22 percent between 2008 and 2018. What is particularly interesting is that these jobs will be in various fields, not just in long-term care and geriatrics. As medical procedures advance, nurses are needed to care for patients who are recovering from previously fatal diseases and conditions.

How does the current shortage compare to ones in the past?

The last time the United States experienced a significant nursing shortage was in 1965. It’s predicted that in 2025, there will be a shortage that rivals that of the one in 1965. In fact, it’s estimated that we will be short twice the amount.

How is the nursing field faring in the recession compared to other job markets?

Healthcare facilities across the U.S., including hospitals, long-term care and clinics, added 21,000 jobs in November 2009. In that same month, 85,000 people in other fields lost their jobs.

Why can’t some new nurses find jobs?

Currently there is a job vacancy rate of more than 8 percent, and yet some nurses can’t find jobs. One reason may be that these nurses are new and inexperienced. Will the powers-that-be invest money into orienting them and accepting them into the fold? Seems the smart ones will, considering these nurses are going to be an essential part of the team 15 years from now!

Why are people being turned away from nursing school when there’s a significant shortage looming?
Almost 50,000 potential nurses were refused entry into BSN and graduate nursing programs in the 2008-09 academic year due to the lack of resources


—instructors, space and clinical sites. If you’re a seasoned nurse, what this means is that if you’ve been harboring a secret desire to go into teaching, there’s no time like the present. Instructors are needed in the classrooms and in the clinical areas.


Can I still be a bedside nurse while teaching?
Some nurses work part-time as floor nurses and part-time as clinical instructors. These nurses get paid to help educate the next generation of nurses while maintaining the job they’ve always loved.
Why are some hospitals struggling with staffing problems?


The nurse staffing problem isn’t just the lack of new nurses, but the mobility of the new graduates. Apparently, 13 percent of new RNs change jobs after just one year and 37 percent would like to. Considering how much it costs to recruit nurses and to teach them the ropes, this could result in significant dings in the annual staffing budgets. According to a 2005 report, it costs almost $3,000 to hire a new nurse.

Why is it important to find the right job and stick with it when there are so many specialties to explore?
Above all else, it’s best for the patients. For example, good staffing increases a surgical patient’s chance of survival by 7 percent. There’s no better reason out there for nurses and administrators to work toward maintaining a good staff.



What can nurses do to help fill the ranks?
Don’t feel helpless—speak up. If you feel you would make a good teacher, don’t keep wondering if you should do it—do it! There are various ways to add to your education, from going to a traditional classroom to taking online courses. If you work in a hospital that doesn’t offer clinical space for nursing students, propose it. The more students we have out there, the better it will be for all of usReferences:
Originating Source and full owner of this article from:http://scrubsmag.com/
http://centerforamericannurses.org/displaycommon.cfm?an=1&subarticlenbr=20

A New Nurse for a New Year...

 

 

According to the American Psychological Association, weight loss, smoking cessation and increasing exercise are the top three New Year’s resolutions in America.
But do New Year’s resolutions really work and change unhealthy behaviors in individuals? Sometimes they do. Those who make resolutions are ten times more likely to successfully change their behavior than those who do not partake in resolutions. Even though that means about 60 percent of people drop their resolutions by the six-month mark, some come back to the resolution in the following years to finally achieve success.
Nurses, are you planning on making a New Year’s resolution this year? If so, here are five tips to increase your chances of success.

1. Have a clear objective. Examples of clear objectives are: “Lose weight for my vacation in March” or “Increase my energy level so that I can play more with the kids.
    
2. Make your goal realistic. “Lose 2-3 pounds every week” or “Eat 5 fruits and vegetables servings a day” are realistic goals, while “Lose 20 pounds in two weeks” would be an unrealistic goal.
    
3. Enjoy what you choose to do to meet your goal. If you don’t enjoy the process to reach the goal, chances are that you will quit. For example, choose healthy foods you enjoy and participate in an exercise program that you look forward to, not dread.
4. 
    
5. Remove the obstacles and make it convenient. For example, pack healthful foods in your bag for when you get the munchies and might be tempted to grab unhealthy foods or a cigarette, or pack a pair of tennis shoes in your bag for impromptu opportunities to walk.
   
6. Expect setbacks. Make a pact with yourself that if you stray from the plan, you will jump right back into it, and will not get overly discouraged. Remind yourself that it’s more important to stay on the plan “more often than not”, than to stick with the plan 100% perfectly.
7.  

May this year be your year to succeed in all you set out to accomplish!
Happy 2012, Nurses!


About the Author: Alice Burron is an affiliate spokesperson and highly successful personal trainer for the American Council on Exercise. She earned a master’s in physical education with an emphasis in exercise physiology from the University of Wyoming and is a leading national fitness and wellness program expert.