NEW YORK NURSE: April 2008
Perhaps you’ve often heard that nurses take care of everyone else – their patients, their friends, their families – but don’t take care of themselves.
The drive to care for others is a personality trait that prompts people to enter the nursing profession. But nurses who consistently neglect themselves risk professional burnout, emotional disorders, and even physical ailments.
Nursing has always been demanding, but chronic problems such as inadequate staffing, too much mandatory overtime, and the increased acuity of patients has only increased the pressure. How do RNs cope with these daily challenges?
This year for Nurses Week, the New York State Nurses Association will offer some unique opportunities for you to reduce stress in your professional and personal life. We hope you’ll give them a try and let us know if they work for you!
Relax your mind and body
Starting May 6 (the first day of Nurses Week), a special Nurses Association podcast, “Guided Relaxation for Nurses,” will be available for download at www.nysna.org. Created by a certified yoga instructor, the 15-minute audio presentation will help you release tension from your muscles and clear your mind of stress-creating thoughts. Download the podcast to your MP3 player or personal computer to listen as often as you want.
Pamper yourself for a year
Through a special arrangement with The Body Shop™, NYSNA members will be eligible to receive a free one-year “Love Your Body” membership entitling them to discounts and free offers at any store location and online.
The Body Shop offers a wide range of eco-friendly products, including a bath and body collection, fragrances, moisturizers and cleansers, aromatherapy, and products for men. The “Love Your Body” card, a $10 value, will be available only to NYSNA members for a limited time. Watch for details in the May 2008 issue of New York Nurse.
Share your self-care tips
It’s crucial for nurses to share their experiences with their colleagues. Seasoned nurses often have their own strategies for dealing with difficult situations and stress. In honor of Nurses Week, we’re compiling suggestions and tips for healthy self-care. Let us know how you counter stress at work, wind down after a shift, or pamper yourself on days off. Send an e-mail to communications@nysna.org or call 800.724.6976, ext. 275. You may see your suggestions in a future issue of New York Nurse or on our website.