As a nurse, your main goal is to deliver high-quality patient care and earn a good salary. Here’s how to achieve it and keep your personal and professional satisfaction high throughout your career.
Communication with colleagues and patients is important
It is not uncommon to have a lot on your mind during the day. Communication is essential when working with others and providing good patient care. Without good communication it’s easy to make mistakes, and patients may feel that they aren’t being listened to.
Communication problems at work should be brought to the attention of the administration before they cause further issues.
Strive for a healthy work-life balance
It can be physically and emotionally challenging to practice nursing. Nurses must balance work and family life. It is important to find ways to leave the work behind at the end the day as much as you can, so that you can give your family and yourself the attention and care they deserve.
It can be difficult at first but with practice, successful nurses become better at this. Burnout can be emotional or physical, and it will affect the quality of care provided to patients and have a negative impact on relationships.
It is important to take some time off occasionally, but it is more important to set aside some self-care each day. You can do more good for yourself by doing something that’s just for you, like reading a book or drinking herbal tea.
Find a mentor at work
Nurses with more experience and age are more than happy to provide advice and support to those who are just beginning their career. Hearing the experiences of others who have already been through it can be a great way for beginners to gain knowledge and confidence.
Some medical facilities promote mentorship more strongly than others. As part of the orientation or training you receive when accepting a new job, you may be assigned a mentor.
Encourage and assist others
It is good to encourage people, no matter their level of expertise. Find ways to boost someone’s morale or mood if they are going through a difficult time. This encourages other employees to follow suit, boosting morale throughout the office.
Helping other healthcare workers who are overloaded can be a positive thing if you manage to do it without compromising your own job.
When to seek help
You can easily get overwhelmed by trying to do too many things. Unfortunately, circumstances outside of your control can also create a stressful work environment. When things become too hectic, patient care and satisfaction may suffer. You may want to avoid giving others a lot to do, but remember that healthcare is teamwork and that employees need to help each other out when things are busy.
Imagine that every nurse seems to be overwhelmed by extra duties on a regular basis. The administration should be informed of this situation and they need to take action to hire additional staff.
Patient feedback is often the first indication that an institution has inadequate staff. Waiting too long to receive care or attention can lead to longer recovery times, or worse. Asking for help will allow patients to receive the medical care they require.
Exercise and healthy eating habits are encouraged.
Nurses who do not take care of themselves will find it harder to do their job well. Leaders can promote nurse health by encouraging healthy diets and regular exercise. Facilities should also consider offering gym memberships to employees as an added perk.
Another simple way to encourage better eating habits is by ensuring vending machines in a facility offer healthy food choices. Healthy snacks can be a great alternative to sugary treats and donuts in the break room.
Make sure nurses have the right equipment
Even younger nurses will eventually feel the effects of too much physical stress. Nurses who want to work for many years must not overstrain their bodies.
All too often, workplace injuries like sprains and strains are common. Injuries are often caused by lifting too much. Administrators of nursing facilities should ensure that nurses have access to the necessary equipment and help so they can perform their tasks with less effort.
Open your mind to new possibilities
Nurses often work at more than one hospital or in different roles throughout their career. If you feel that something is missing after gaining some experience, it may be time to look at other options.
Some nurses choose to earn more advanced degrees in order to pursue roles such as teaching, leadership or administration at nursing schools. The DNP-FNP is a great choice for nurses who are in mid-career or senior-level positions and want to change careers and maximize their earnings potential. The degree can also be completed online, while still working full-time.
Many nurses choose to work as traveling nurses, taking jobs in different places throughout the country where they practice. It is an excellent way to live in new places and work with people of different backgrounds.
The conclusion of the article is:
Throughout their career, nurses need to maintain a good balance between work and life. Healthcare administrators should promote healthy lifestyles and an hospitable working environment for their nursing personnel.
There are faster healing times and better outcomes for patients when there is high morale in the workplace. Nurses who are not overworked make fewer mistakes and are more willing to go the extra distance to give the best possible care to patients.
