A Surprising Way to Decrease Stress in Nursing

by | Jan 8, 2016 | 12 comments

What if I told you that it wasn’t the patient load that was actually stressing nurses out in the workplace? Would you believe me?

Think about it.

A Surprising Way to Decrease Stress in Nursing #nursingfromwithinMost nurses go into the profession of nursing to care for sick patients. So even those days when we have one too many to take care of, is it the patients we care for that is stressing us out?

An interesting study done at the University of Aberdeen found the type of work nurses do is actually not creating the stress that they felt at work. Instead of patient care issues, it was what the nurses were thinking about while at work that was causing increased stress.

The researchers found that nurses “felt less stressed if they felt in control of their activities and if they felt valued and appreciated.”

Fascinating stuff, huh? As I read this article, I was reminded of the very first time I went to my business coach’s live event. It was in 2011 and I was sitting in the front row next to a middle-aged man. He and I got to talking about nursing, my jobs as a nurse, and how I felt. After three days of conversation, he said something to me which I have never forgotten.

He said: “Maybe it wasn’t your job that you left… maybe it was the fact that you didn’t feel valued or appreciated that made you decide to leave.”

Spot on! (According to the article and the research cited above.)

So if nursing stress is less due to the actual nature of a nurse’s work and more likely connected to how a nurse feels in the workplace… this can provide a new twist to the stress reduction tips we share with our nursing staff.

[Tweet “Here Are 3 Unconventional Ways to Reduce in Nursing”]

  1. Give the ‘Why’. It’s no secret that a nurse wants to do good work. And there’s no denying that nurses are task oriented, intelligent human beings who can get  the job done. This is why a simple solution to decreasing nursing stress is giving nurses the reasons WHY. If a change is coming from the organizational level that involves nursing practice, tell them the reasons why the decision was made. When a nurse can connect their work with the bigger picture and relate it to patient care they are much more likely to ease into policy changes and practice reform. Just telling a nurse to do something and expecting adherence is less likely to occur. To avoid push back, a nurse leader needs to involve the nurse in the reasons for the practice change.
  2. A Surprising Way to Decrease Stress in Nursing #nursingfromwithinOffer Choices. Closely related to point number one above, and certainly in alignment with the reported research article, nurses will feel less stress when they perceive and experience more control. What is the need to control really all about? It is related to the unknown. If a nurse is unsure of the future, they feel out of control. Feeling unable to control situations in the workplace then leads to more stress. A way to counteract this is by providing options. Sure, the organization may need to make a change. Yet is there any variety in the way it can get done? Can you offer your nursing teams 2-3 options and let them decide upon implementation? Allow nurses to be involved in healthcare shifts and you’ll enjoy a less stressed out staff.
  3. Recognize Meaningfully. Sure, we have all heard of appreciating our staff. And often it comes across as scripted or done ‘just because’ we have to. How about getting to know each nurse on a more personal level? This way nurses can receive the appreciation in the way that serves them best. Or, stop and appreciate your nursing staff even for just doing their job. You see someone maintaining hand hygiene or gowning up for isolation… instead of walking by, can something uplifting be said in that moment? Can you simply smile and say ‘good morning’ to each person you pass on the way to your office or next meeting? Taking time to appreciate and recognize nursing staff can go a very long way.

I’d love to hear from our readers. What tips above have you tried and what was your experience like? What are some other suggestions you can add to this list? Please share a comment below so we can support each other in engaging and retaining quality nursing staff.

Elizabeth Scala, MSN/MBA, RN; Founder of Nursing from WithinAbout the Author: As a keynote speaker, bestselling author and virtual conference host, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. During the National Nurse’s Week online conference, ‘The Art of Nursing‘, Elizabeth supports nurses in achieving professional goals of continued learning and development. Click here to find out more about how The Art of Nursing appreciates and celebrates our profession in a meaningful way.

12 Comments

  1. Bobbi Kolonay

    When I transitioned from having a private care management practice to hiring RN Care Managers and managing the business, I vowed I would not be like the majority of nurse managers I had experienced. Your article is right on! Nurses want autonomy with support when needed, most want to be told they are doing a good job (and when they aren’t) and the WHY, seems to be of utmost importance, especially with change.
    Just like we cannot compartmentalize patient’s body’s into systems to treat without seeing the whole – we cannot “shut off” what is going on in our personal life from our job. As you pointed out so well this = STRESS!
    Thanks for the great article – I will be bookmarking it for reference!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks, Bobbi. I appreciate your comments and am glad to hear that the article was so spot on from your experience.

      Reply
  2. Sarah Mott

    This is on the button. I have experienced first hand managers that made me feel appreciated and those that didn’t. I did not stay in the positions where I did not feel appreciated, it was more stressful and I felt unhappy. Great article.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks, Sarah. Much appreciated!

      Reply
  3. reneefava

    Your post is spot on Elisabeth! Patients don’t cause us stress. It’s the conditions in the work place that do!! I also recommend starting with “why”. I read the book, “Start With Why” by Simon Sinek.I wish more leaders would read it!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Oh, great recommend. I will check that book out. Many thanks!

      Reply
  4. Cheryl Brockwell

    HI, I appreciate your work so much, but it saddens me that this has to be researched and posted when the DiSC profile has been around for how long? I have known and practiced for years, even out of nursing that if someone is task driven and conscientious (C profile), often with a sensing nature thrown in (S profile), then if you want to bring about change you need to give them time to adjust to the change and explain why and allow them to find the positive in it. Why oh why do we keep expecting those at the front line to just keep on going without acknowledging what they do? I guess that’s why I am moving into education, although that is just as full of task driven people orientated practitioners.

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks for your comments, Cheryl. It is so true that each person is an individual and we need to respect that as we navigate the shifts in healthcare. I am glad you bring up the DiSC here. Great points. Thanks for your comments and best success to your new role!

      Reply
  5. Janelle Collins-Williams

    This article is the truth! I left a position after seven years because my manager did not appreciate the hard work I put in to make the unit excel. I often asked myself “Why am I here?” If she would have acknowledged and appreciated my efforts, I would still be working there!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      Thanks for your feedback, Janelle. I am glad you enjoyed the post. It is also wonderful to hear that you made a change based on your needs. I do hope that you are much happier and are feeling more appreciated in your new role. Thank you for the comment. Enjoy the day!

      Reply
  6. Susan

    Thanks for this insightful article. I am reminded of the equation E + R = O. There’s an event (E) that leads to an outcome (O); added in there is the R which is our reaction / response, the story we tell ourselves about the event which then alters the outcome. So it’s not just the stress, but what nurses think about while at work that causes increased stress. Thanks for pointing that out as well as offering the mindful stress reduction tips!

    Reply
    • Elizabeth

      So true, Susan. Great point that we bring ourselves and our perceptions to everything that we do. I love this formula and appreciate you sharing it here.

      Reply

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