Stress Management in Nursing: Contributing Factors, Tips & More

• Stress management in nursing is essential for having a healthy mindset and workplace.
• Not all coping techniques work for everyone, and that’s okay.
• Nursing CE Central has the inside scoop on the best ways you can tackle and manage your stress!

Whether it’s once a week, once a shift, or once an hour, if you are a nurse, you have most likely experienced stress at some point throughout your career. We’ve all been there.  

Are you a nurse that thrives in a stressful environment? Or do you get overwhelmed when a high-pressure situation presents itself?  

Either way, identifying coping mechanisms that fit your personality and work habits is extremely important, but it can be a trial-and-error process. However, don’t let this sway you from finding what helps you manage stressful situations. 

In order to develop strategies for successful stress management in nursing, we first need to identify what the main factors contributing to nurses’ stress are. 

Factors Contributing to Nurse‘s Stress  

Work-Life Balance

In a 2017 study from an American multinational workforce management provider, Kronos, it was outlined that 98% of nurses believe that their job is both mentally and physically draining, further resulting in 83% reporting that they are leaving their hospital jobs behind in search of a better work-life balance.  

A recent survey from the University of North Dakota’s Master of Science in Nursing Program evaluates the overall impact stress has on nurses. Some of the major factors contributing to nurses’ high-stress levels are: 

Staffing

91% of nurses believe their workplace is understaffed, resulting in employees having to work overtime. 

Burnout

 62% of nurses feel burnt out in their jobs due to being overworked, while 44% believe that their burnout is affecting their performance.  

Accessibility to External Resources

47% believe that a source of their stress roots from the lack of access they have to mental health services such as counseling or therapy.  

Stress Management in Nursing: Tips and Benefits for Workplace 

Now that we have identified the source of nurses’ stress, let’s talk about how we can overcome it. It is important to understand that there are many ways we can cope with stress, but not all of them will be effective for you and that’s okay!  

A reputable, physician-approved online resource for health information, Verywell Mind, outlines several short-term, fast-acting, and long-term strategies to utilize stress management in nursing. 

• Short-term: These strategies are meant to be performed at any time or place (i.e. meditation, breathing, and walking). 
• Fast-acting: Although they can be performed anywhere outside of the workplace, these strategies are recommended to be practiced in your safe place (i.e. hugging a loved one, aromatherapy, and drawing/painting).  
• Long-term: In our self-care tips blog, we touched on several of the long-term strategies nurses can utilize to de-stress – check it out!  

Not only do stress management in nursing techniques benefit you, but they positively impact your workplace, too! A nationally recognized online resource for promoting healthy workplace environments, the Wellness Council of America (WELCOA), highlights some of the key benefits of successful stress management in nursing and the impact it has on the workplace: 

– Positive workplace culture

– Less sick days 

– Increased employee retention and talent acquisition  

– Open communication with staff

Try Some Self-Care for Stress Management in Nursing 

1. Get Some Sleep!  When you are well-rested, you are less moody, have more energy, and your body is able to balance digestion and metabolism. Sleep seems simple enough, yet a global analytics and advice firm, Gallup, determined that over 40% of Americans get less than seven hours of sleep at night. This might take some thought, but experiment with different sleep routines and determine what needs to happen for you to get those extra Z‘s.

2. Take a Spa Day.  You spend all your days taking care of everyone else, whether it be your patients, your staff, your kids, your spouse, or, of course, your parents. However, you must remember to take a little you time. That may be getting a pedicure, receiving a massage, trying a detox, just taking some time to relax and recharge. You deserve it.  

3. Exercise as an Outlet. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins, which make you happy. Exercise is a wonderful method to moderate and relieve stress. You can take your stress out on the treadmill, Peloton, or punching bag… just not on your family or co-workers. Taking time to exercise is vital for you to be at your best every day. So, go take that new class you’ve wanted to try out! 

Whatever works for you, do it. When you don‘t take care of yourself, the stress you experience from your work can have lasting effects on your physical and mental health. You will also provide better care for your patients when your stress is more effectively managed! 

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