“I think people are as individual as snowflakes, they kinda look alike but no two are the exactly the same, and all classification is the root of prejudice.” -unknown

Just as snowflakes and people, no two nurses are exactly the same. There are so many types of nurses out there- and I’m not just talking specialty. We’ve got…

• Night shift nurses, saving lives in complete darkness, are a species of their own;
• Nursing students, fresh from school, offer a fresh beginner’s mind perspective;
• A nurse entrepreneur, no longer involved in clinical nursing, saves lives in unique ways.

No two nurses are alike. With different types of nurses, working in specific specialities like oncology, medicine, psychiatric and emergency, we can offer support, expertise and care from a whole range of knowledge. Nursing, and the nurses that practice in our profession, is never completely uniform.

While all of this diversity is imperative for total person care, we also experience a great number of similarities. One of those being:

[Tweet “We all experience the tension placed upon us as we try to come up with how to relieve stress in our nursing roles.”]

This brings up another potential dilemma as we, again being unique individuals find solutions in a variety of ways. The way I have come to realize how to relieve stress in my own life may not be the same strategy you find useful. What works for you may not work for the next nurse, who is also looking to release tension and strain.

Just as there are so many different types of nurses, there are several (dare I say millions) of solutions a person can experiment with for stress reduction.

As a nurse entrepreneur, interested in spiritual health, I tend to offer tips that uplift spirituality in nursing. So I am going to share three questions with you that may or may not serve. What I suggest is you take what works and leave the rest. So here we go…

[Tweet “Here are 3 questions to ask yourself if you’re looking for answers on how to relieve stress in nursing.”]

1. What makes me unique? One reason you may be experiencing stress if because you attempting to practice nursing in a way that you perceive other people expect you to. When we can let go of other people’s desires for us and tap into the nurse we are truly meant to be, we can often uncover several different nursing jobs which we can excel and thrive at. So think about your unique values, skills and personality. What makes you special? How can you bring more of that into your nursing practice?
2. Why do it? You’re a nurse- now what. Maybe you’ve been a nurse for a very long time. Maybe you’re just starting out. If you’re looking for something that is going to help you figure out how to relieve stress, maybe it’s time to tap back into the reasons you became a nurse in the first place. Going within, living from our values, and reconnecting to the life purpose we are here to experience on this earthly plain are all ways to stimulate your spiritual health. Get back to the core reason why you practice nursing and maybe some of that tension you may be feeling will start to lift.
3. Where am I going? Many times we are looking for changes in our lives is because they have become monotonous to us. We are stuck in the same place, unable to make changes we desire. I invite you to create a clear vision for the type of nurse you do want to become. Once you have that image, ask yourself where you’d like to be three months, six months, or a year from now. Start each day with taking one specific action step to move your self forward.

Spirituality in nursing does not have to be a foreign, scary or overwhelming thing. It isn’t something that is meant to add more pressure to your role. In fact, embracing and uplifting your spiritual health as a nurse just may be the very thing you are looking for to help you with questions on how to relieve stress in your career, home and life.

What would you add to the above list? How can you relieve stress in your nursing career? Would adding spirituality in nursing or trying out a different nursing job be a solution for you? Let’s hear from you. Thanks for reading and feel free to leave your comment below.