Jennifer Shearin Group Wellness Coaching Self-care For Nurses

By Author: Celestine Webb
Total Articles: 5

Caring for the Caregiver: A Course in Self-Care for Nurses

Nurses tend to be natural nurturers and caretakers. Empathy and Nurturance have long been seen as the mainstays of the nursing profession. Women are usually the primary caregivers in their families and often must choose between caring for themselves and others…unfortunately, social pressures and a sense of obligation and/or guilt will have a woman choose caring for others over caring for herself the majority of the time. Over time, this usually leaves a woman feeling unappreciated, resentful, and stressed out, and could eventually lead to poor physical health. This goes double for nurses, whose livelihoods are also centered on caring for others.

Burnout, compassion fatigue, and the tolls they have taken on your health can be reversed and prevented! Self-care must become a priority, first and foremost, if you want to restore your health, reduce stress, lose weight, and find that work-life balance that you have been missing.

There are many things you can do to nurture your Self. Some of these things are:

- Add the words “No” and “Enough” to your vocabulary.
- Nurture friendships where you can talk about your feelings.
- Have more Empathy for yourself; give yourself a break once in a while. You are only human!
- Do not base your self-worth on your profession.
- Make time to exercise and eat right, you are worth it!
- Nurture your mind-body connection…yoga, meditation, or even a long walk alone in nature will do - wonders for your making your more self-aware and lifting your spirits.
- Avoid chronic complainers, worrywarts, and pessimists. Surround yourself with positive people. If you have to be around a negative person on a regular basis, decrease conversation and contact with that person as much as you can.

While these tips are useful, it is sometimes easier said than done to make these kinds of changes in your life, especially when you are tired and stretched for time. Nurses often work 12-hour shifts and overtime, and it may be challenging to fit in adequate sleep and time with family, much less menu-planning, a yoga class, or a long walk. Change is easier when it’s done in steps, but it may be hard to know where to start. That is why I have developed an e-course for nurses, entitled, “Caring for the Caregiver: A Course in Self-Care for Nurses”.

The American Holistic Nurses Association defines self-care as:

- Body; exercise, grooming, massages, breathing, yoga, conscious eating.
- Mind; quiet contemplation, meditation, focusing on the moment, healing music, laughter.
Spirit; meditation and prayer, reading spiritual literature, listing positive things in your life, random acts of kindness.

The AHNA also states that burnout is a major issue in the nursing profession and can lead to:

- Substance abuse
- Low morale
- Depression and anxiety
- Physical illness
- Resentment and anger
- Difficulties in relationships and family life
- Absenteeism and staff turnover

“Self-care results in the empowerment of nurses to take a more assertive role and have their voices heard regarding the practice environment”. (Carla Mariano, Stress management article, Winter 2007)

Nurses NEED to take better care of themselves…for themselves, for their families, for their patients, and for the entire nursing profession!

When you purchase “Caring for the Caregiver: Self-Nurturing for Nurses”, you will receive 11 weekly modules via email. The course is based on the Duke Integrative Medicine Wheel of Health and is tailored especially for nurses. The modules are:

1. Introduction and Self-Assessment
2. Mindful Awareness
3. Movement, Exercise, and Rest
4. Nutrition
5. Physical Environment
6 Relationships and Communication
7. Spirituality
8. Personal and Professional Development
9. Mind-Body Connection
10. Professional Care: An Integrative Approach
11. Summary and Resources

The course contains a treasure-trove of resources and information, as well as activities and “homework” that will enhance your progress. I will also be available to you via email on a limited basis for any questions that you may have.

For a limited time, I am offering my new 11 week e-course, “Caring for the Caregiver: A Course in Self-Care for Nurses”, for a bargain price of $59.95. I am doing this because I think that there is a HUGE need in the nursing profession for something like this, and I want to get it out there to as many nurses as possible!

Just look at my fees for one-on-one health coaching, and you will see what a tremendous bargain this is. This e-course will allow you to examine all aspects of your health, learn new self-care techniques and utilize this holistic approach to wellness for less than 1/10th of the price of personalized one-on-one coaching. Think about it this way…how much does ONE doctor’s office visit cost? Can you see that this e-course may have the potential to help you in ways that your doctor never could? Ideally, you could also learn new ways to care for your family and patients as well, and your mind may be opened to all sorts of new possibilities!

How about a guarantee? If you go through the entire 11-week program, put some effort into it, read the materials, do the exercises, and you haven’t made any progress be the end of the 11-weeks, then I will give you your money back. Can you get that kind of guarantee from your doctor? What do you have to lose, besides stress, excess weight, burnout, and the rut that you find yourself in?