I’ve often said/written that being a nurse entrepreneur is one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Yet when I really think about that statement, you could potentially argue that your nursing role (whichever nursing career you find yourself in at present day) is the most challenging thing you’ve ever done.

Why is this? With all of the different types of nurses out there, how can each and every nursing role be ‘the most difficult’ one?

Two things come to mind in answering these complex questions. The first is that it truly is a matter of perspective. Think about it this way: if I gave you a pair of sunglasses that had green-colored lenses and told you to put them on, what would happen when you looked at a white sheet of paper? You and I would get into a pretty heated argument, right?

You’d be certain that the paper was green while I would continuously (and with little success) try to convince you otherwise. We’d go head-to-head for hours on end, until you removed those green-colored lenses.

The same can be said for the different types of nurses out there and whose nursing career is actually the ‘hardest’. OK. So now that we got the first point out of the way, what about a deeper reflection on this question at hand:

[Tweet “How can each and every nursing role be the most difficult one?”]

As a nurse entrepreneur, I have to put myself ‘out there’ in front of different types of nurses each day. From nursing executives to clinical nurses, from nursing students to entire organizations- if I want my nursing based business to be a success- I have to get in front of people and get them to know, like and trust me.

Well, guess what? This can be pretty scary stuff. Especially when you start to think about how all of your past beliefs, memories, attitudes and perceptions can impact your current day thoughts and feelings. So I have to constantly be working on my self-esteem, self-worth and self-love. It’s a daily practice, yet one that has come to be an exciting journey for me.

As nurses, we know that there are many types of health out there. We have (no surprise to us as healthcare professionals) physical health, mental health, emotional health and financial health. What about spiritual health? Through all of this self-growth as a nurse entrepreneur, I’ve come to value spiritual health as one of the most significant factors in my own career success.

So let’s talk about how spirituality in nursing can teach us how to relieve stress.

There is a TON of stress in nursing these days. From financial constraints to electronic medical record adaptation, from organizational restructuring to greater numbers of chronic conditions- you are likely to feel some sort of stress in nursing these days.

Besides the run-of-the-mill exercise, diet and rest recommendations what are some innovative stress reduction tools that you can use that actually work?

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1. One of the very core principles of spiritual health is that there is something ‘out there’ greater than ourselves. Whether we think of (and call) this universal life force, source energy, or a higher power- the idea is that there is something that is truly loving, supportive and all knowing that is connected to each and every one of us as human beings. We have this life force within us; we can experience it all around us. This connection to something greater than ourselves can help us reduce stress in nursing. When the times get tough and it feels like everything is outside of your control, I encourage you to take pause. Breathe. Connect to the divine and allow yourself to feel fully supported in chaotic times.
2. The second way to incorporate spirituality in nursing is to live each day consistent with your values and beliefs. One of the challenges we face as nurses is that there are so many of us! We are constantly surrounded by like-minded professionals who speak our language, walk in our shoes, and understand where we are coming from. This is a GREAT thing; don’t get me wrong. Yet, have you ever heard that your greatest asset can also become your biggest downfall? This is where you have to be very careful. It is imperative to your spiritual health that you know, trust and live by your unique values and beliefs. Doing so will help you to relieve some of the stress in nursing that you feel.
3. Finally, spiritual health can provide hope. A very important universal truth is that everything is moving towards ‘more life’. Think about a plant. If you place a plant in the correct environment, one that allows it to thrive, it will naturally grow. It will then bear seeds and most likely multiply. Having hope that everything, including us, is moving towards more life can be uplifting when we are faced with a difficult situation. One way to incorporate spirituality in nursing is by learning from every challenging situation. If you are going through struggle, obstacle or change ask yourself: what can I learn from this? How will this help me to grow?

Sometimes the stress in nursing that we feel is due to our own mind spinning its wheels. Let’s ease up on making things harder for us and enjoy our nursing careers.

I’d love to hear from you now. What can you add to the above list? Have you incorporated spirituality in nursing? Does spiritual health help you decrease stress in your nursing career? Thanks for reading and enjoy the day.

About the Author: As a speaker, workshop facilitator, and Reiki Master, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. As the  host of the Your Next Shift Workshop, Elizabeth guides nurses and nursing students to a change in perspective, helping them make the inner shift needed to better maneuver the sometimes challenging realities of being a caregiver.